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CHAPLAINS 


OF    THE 


GEIEEAL  GOYEENMENT, 


OBJECTIONS  TO  THEIR  EMPLOYMENT  CONSIDERED. 


ALSO, 

A  LIST  OF  ALL  THE  CHAPLAINS  TO  CONGRESS,  IN  THE 

ARMY  AND  IN  THE  NAVY,  FROM  THE  FORMATION 

OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  TO  THIS  TIME. 


BY 

LORKNZO   D.    JOHNSON. 

Author  of  "  Chrj-ches  and  PaBtors  of  Washington." 


NEW-YORK : 
SHELDON,    BLAKEMAN    &    CO 

115   NASSAU  STREET. 
185G. 


■^  L 


INDEX  TO  SUBJECTS. 


PAGE. 

Proceedings  of  the  Thirty-third  Congress 5 

Opposition  to  the  Election  Overcome 6 

Memorials  to  Congress  to  Abolish  the  Ofl&ce  of  Chaplains  in  all 

the  Departments  of  Government . .  s 7 

Death  of  Hon.  James  Meacham — Note 7 

Report  from  the  Judiciary  Committee  in  Reply  to  the  Memo- 
rialists      8 

Memorial  from  the  Particular  Baptists  of  Tennessee 18 

Extract  from  the  Memorial 19 

Opposition  to  Chaplains  from  other  sources 21 

Election  of  a  Chaplain  to  the  Senate 23 

The  Chaplains'  "Work  not  Appreciated ." 23 

Number  of  Chaplains  allowed  by  Congress 26 

The  means  by  which  Chaplains  reach  their  Appointment,  con- 
sidered     27 

Acts  of  Congress  relating  to  Chaplains  in  the  Army,  posts  of 

Duty— Notes 28 

Causes  for  the  disrespect  into  which  the  Office  of  Chaplains  to 

Congress  has  fallen,  considered 31 

A  Remedy  Suggested 32 

Hon.  Mr.  Dowdell's  Resolution 35 

Debates  in  the  House  on  the  Employment  of  Chaplains 36 

Final  Vote  for  the  Several  Candidates 46 

Compensation  of  Chaplains 48 

The  Duties  of  a  Chaplain  to  Congress — Note 48 

Hon.  Mr.  Millson's  Objections  to  a  Change,  considered 49 

Rev.  Mr.  Waldo,  why  Elected 61 

Rev,  Mr.  Dean's  Election  to  the  Senate 53 


m9779 


IV  INDEX   TO    SUBJECTS. 

Extract  from  Washington's  Farewell  Address 54 

Extract  from  Mr.  Webster's  Address 55 

Prayer  of  Mr.  Duche  in  the  Colonial  Congress 56 

Opinions  on  the  Clergy  expressed  in  Congress 58 

Mr.  Webster's  Opinion  of  the  Clergy 59 

List  of  all  the  Chaplains  to  the  U.  S.  Senate 60 

List  of  Chaplains  to  the  House  of  Representatives 62 

List  of  Chaplains  to  the  Army 66 

(Jeneral  Remarks  on  Chaplains  to  the  Army 70 

List  of  Chaplains  in  the  Navy •«•<.  72 

Notice  of  Mr,  Stewart,  Mr.  Colton,  Mr.  Jones,  and  Mr.  Noble.  75 

The  Religious  Sect  of  Chaplains 76 

Elevation  of  the  Standard  Character  among  Naval  Chaplains..  76 

Reasons  for  Increasing  the  Number  of  Chaplains 78 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 


Among  the  marked  proceedings  of  the  33d  Congress  that 
will  ever  make  it  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  National 
Legislature,  is  the  special  attention  bestowed,  both  in  the 
Senate  and  the  House,  on  the  duties  and  derelictions  of 
ministers  of  the  Gospel.  This  was  more  or  less  drawn 
forth  by  the  clergy  themselves,  who  acted  together  with 
such  unusual  unanimity  in  memorializing  Congress  against 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  first,  from  New 
York,  then  from  New  England  generally,  where  more  than 
three  thousand  Pastors  signed  a  remonstrance  against  the 
passage  of  the  Kansas- Nebraska  bill,  and  finally,  in  most 
of  the  North  Western  States.  Never  since  that  memorable 
proceeding  in  Congress  relating  to  running  the  mail  on  the 
Sabbath,  had  there  been  such  an  uprising  of  the  clergy, 
speaking  in  tones  of  such  remonstrance  as  on  this  occasion ; 
and  never  before  did  members  in  their  places  on  the  floor 
of  Congress  take  it  upon  themselves  to  say  so  much  in  the 
way  of  defining  the  position  of  a  Christian  minister  and  his 
mission  among  men.*  It  was  believed  by  Senators  and 
members  of  the  House  also,  that  those  who  cast  so  much 
blame  upon  these  memorialists,  did  not  alwavs  make  their 

*  See  note  on  page  58. 


6  CfiAPLAINS'6t'* THE 'general   GOVERNMENT. 

denunciations  harmonise  with  facts.  Replies  were  elicited 
from  eminent  statesmen  in  hoth  halls  of  Congress.  This 
defiance  of  the  clergy  and  then  the  "  defence"  of  them,  (for 
one  distinguished  member  devoted  an  entire  speech  to  the 
subject,)  gave  the  long  session  of  the  33d  Congress,  for  a 
time,  the  semblance  of  an  ecclesiastical  council  more  than 
that  of  a  legislative  assembly.  But  there  was  another 
movement  made  with  a  view  to  entirely  silence  the  minis- 
ters of  religion  in  certain  important  fields  of  usefulness, 
where  the  general  government  only  can  open  or  shut  the 
door.  Although  the  movers  then  failed  in  their  design, 
yet  what  was  done  awakened  a  train  of  thought,  and 
inaugurated  a  movement  which  has  been  operating  ever 
since ;  the  tendencies  of  which  are  to  lessen  public  re- 
spect for  the  office  of  Chaplain  as  employed  by  the  Greneral 
Government — in  Congress — in  the  Army  and  Navy. 

It  is  to  the  consideration  of  this  subject  that  the  follow- 
ing pages  will  mainly  be  devoted. 

At  the  opening  of  the  33d  Congress,  when  the  choice  of 
officers  had  progressed  in  the  House,  until  the  motion  to 
elect  a  Chaplain  was  reached,  several  members  took  occasion 
to  manifest  their  contempt  for  the  office,  and  their  want  of 
respect  for  those  who  were  elected  to  fill  it,  by  treating  the 
proposition  to  elect  a  Chaplain  with  ridicule.  But  the  op- 
position, which  was  feebly  sustained,  was  overruled,  and 
chaplains  were  elected  as  usual,  to  both  Houses  of  Con- 
gress. 

Whatever  is  said  or  done  in  Congress  soon  finds  its  way, 
on  telegraphic  wires,  or  by  other  facilities,  to  the  remotest 
parts  of  the  country.  Hon.  Mr.  Petitt,  of  Indiana,  who, 
for  many  years,  had  distinguished  himself  both  in  and  out 
of  Congress,  for  his  opposition  to  revealed  religion,  sent 


CHAPLAINS   OP   THE   GENERAL   GOVERNMENT.  7 

abroad  tlie  one  idea,  that  all  Chaplains  employed  by  the  gov- 
ernment must  be  dismissed,  and  the  office  abolished.  One 
religious  sect  in  particular,  had  been  roused  to  action  in 
this  opposition,  and  such  others  of  no  religion,  as  harmo- 
nised wdth  the  disciples  of  that  noted  infidel,  the  late  Abner 
Kneeland,  to  send  up  memorials  to  Congress,  praying  that 
the  usage  of  employing  Chaplains  by  the  Greneral  Govern- 
ment might  be  abolished.  These  petitions  were  duly  re- 
ceived and  referred  to  the  committee  on  the  judiciary. 
The  late  Hon.  James  Meacham,  of  Vermont,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  that  committee,  in  the  division  of  their  labor,  the 
duty  of  considering  and  answering  these  petitioners  fell 
into  his  hands,- — upon  which  he  made  an  "able  report. — 
being  brief,  and  containing  information,  eveiy  line  of 
which  will  amply  repay  a  careful  perusal,  it  will  be  placed 
in  the  following  pages.  We  are  the  more  induced  to  give 
it  an  insertion  from  the  fact  that  but  a  small  number  of 
copies  were  printed,  and  therefore  but  few  of  them  were 
ever  seen  outside  of  Washington. 

NoTE.  Since  writing  the  above  paragraph,  the  newspapers  have  brought 
us  the  melancholy  tidings,  that  Hon.  James  Meacham  has  passed  away  from 
earth.  He  died  in  Middlebury,  Vt.,  August  23d,  in  the  47th  year  of  his 
age.  His  death,  being  announced  in  Congress,  out  of  respect  to  his  me- 
mory, both  branches  of  the  National  Legislature  adjourned.  Hon.  Mr. 
Foot;  in  a  brief  sketch  of  his  character  before  the  Senate,  among  other  things 
said — "  James  Meacham  was  generously  gifted  by  nature,  possessing  an 
active  and  logical  mind.  He  was  a  terse  and  vigorous  writer,  and  a  ready 
and  forcible  public  speaker.  His  mind  had  been  disciplined  by  severe  study, 
and  was  well  stored  with  choice  literature  and  general  knowledge.  He  was 
a  man  of  thought  and  reflection  ;  firm  and  decided  in  the  opinions  he  had 
deliberately  formed,  and  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  expressing  with  entire 
frankness  and  freedom,  yet  observing  all  that  deference  and  courtesy  toward 
the  dissenting  opinion  of  others,  which  belonged  to  his  character  and  his 
position." 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOYBRNMBNT. 


33d  Congress— 1st  Session-  Ho.  of  Rep. 

CHAPLAINS  IN  CONGRESS  AND  IN  THE  ARMY 

AND  NAVY. 

March  27,  1853. — Ordered  to  be  printed. 

Mr.  Meacham,  from  the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary,  made 
the  following 

REPORT. 

The  Committee  on  the  Judiciary,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
memorials  of  citizens  of  several  States,  praying  that  the  of- 
fice of  chaplain  in  the  army,  navy,  and  at  West  Point,  at 
Indian  stations,  and  in  both  Houses  of  Congress^  he  abolished^ 
respectfully  report : 

That  they  have  had  the  subject  under  consideration,  and,  af- 
ter careful  examination,  are  not  prepared  to  come  to  the  con- 
clusion desired  by  the  memorialists.  Having  made  that  deci- 
sion, it  is  due  that  the  reason  should  be  given.  Two  clauses 
of  the  constitution  are  relied  on  by  the  memorialists  to  show 
that  their  prayer  should  be  granted.  One  of  these  is  in  the 
sixth  article,  that  "  no  religious  test  shall  ever  be  required  as  a 
qualification  to  any  ofl5ce  or  public  trust  under  the  United 
States."  If  the  whole  section  were  quoted,  we  apprehend 
that  no  one  could  suppose  it  intended  to  apply  to  the  ap- 
pointment of  chaplains. 

"  Art.  6,  Sec.  3.  The  senators  and  representatives  before 
mentioned,  and  the  members  of  the  several  State  legislatures, 
and  all  executive  and  judicial  officers,  both  of  the  United 
States  and  of  the  several  States,  shall  be  bound,  by  oath  or  af- 
firmation, to  support  this  constitution  ;  but  no  religious  test 
shall  ever  be  required  as  a  qualification  to  any  oflBce  or  public 
trust  under  the  United  States." 

Every  one  must  perceive  that  this  refers  to  a  class  of  per- 
sons entirely  distinct  from  chaplains. 

Another  article  supposed  to  be  violated  is  article  1st  of 
Amendments  :  "  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  es- 
tablishment of  religion."  Does  our  present  practice  violate 
that  article  ?  "What  is  an  establishment  of  religion  ?  It  must 
have  a  creed,  defining  what  a  man  must  believe ;  it  must  have 
rites  and  ordinances,  which  believers  must  observe  ;  it  must 
have  ministers  of  defined  qualifications,  to  teach  the  doctrines 
and  administer  the  rites  ;  it  must  have  tests  for  the  submis- 
sive, and  penalties  for  the  non-conformist.     There  never  was 


CHAPLAINS   OP   THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  9 

an  established  religion  without  all  these.  Is  there  now  or  has 
there  ever  been,  anything  of  this  in  the  appointment  of  chap- 
lains in  Congress,  or  army,  or  navy  ?  The  practice  before  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution  is  much  the  same  as  since  :  the 
adoption  of  that  constitution  does  not  seem  to  have  changed 
the  principle  in  this  respect.  We  ask  the  memorialists  to  look 
at  the  facts.  First,  in  the  army ;  chaplains  were  appointed  for 
the  revolutionary  army  on  its  organization  ;  rules  for  their  re- 
gulation are  found  among  the  earliest  of  the  articles  of  war. 
Congress  ordered,  on  May  27,  1777,  that  there  should  be  one 
chaplain  to  each  brigade  of  the  army,  nominated  by  the  briga- 
dier general,  and  appointed  by  Congress,  with  the  same  pay 
as  colonel ;  and,  on  the  18th  of  September  following,  ordered 
chaplains  to  be  appointed  to  the  hospitals  in  the  several  de- 
partments, with  the  pay  of  ^60  per  month,  three  rations  per 
day,  and  forage  for  one  horse. 

When  the  constitution  was  formed.  Congress  had  power  to 
raise  and  support  armies,  and  to  provide  for  and  support  a 
navy,  and  to  make  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government 
and  regulation  of  land  and  naval  forces.  In  the  absence  of  all 
limitations,  general  or  special,  is  it  not  fair  to  assume  that  they 
were  to  do  these  substantially  in  the  same  manner  as  had  been 
done  before  ?  If  so,  then  they  were  as  truly  empowered  to 
appoint  chaplains  as  to  appoint  generals  or  to  enlist  soldiers. 
Accordingly,  we  find  provision  for  chaplains  in  the  acts  of 
1791,  of  1812,  and  1838.  By  the  last  there  is  to  be  one  to 
each  brigade  in  the  army ;  the  number  is  limited  to  thirty,  and 
these  in  the  most  destitute  places.  The  chaplain  is  also  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  schoolmaster.  The  number  in  the  navy  is 
limited  to  twenty-four.  Is  there  any  violation  of  the  constitu- 
tion in  these  laws  for  the  appointment  of  chaplains  in  the  army 
and  navy  ?  If  not,  let  us  look  at  the  history  of  chaplains  in 
Congress.  Here,  as  before,  we  shall  find  that  the  same  prac- 
tice was  in  existence  before  and  after  the  adoption  of  the  con- 
stitution. The  American  Congress  began  its  session  Septem- 
ber 5,  1774.  On  the  second  day  of  the  session,  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams  proposed  to  open  the  session  with  prayer.  I  give  Mr. 
Webster's  account  of  it:  "At  the  meeting  of  the  first  Con- 
gress there  was  a  doubt  in  the  minds  of  many  about  the  pro- 
priety of  opening  the  session  with  prayer  ;  and  the  reason  as- 
signed was,  as  here,  the  great  diversity  of  opinion  and  religious 
belief:  until,  at  last,  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  with  his  gray  hairs 
hanging  about  his  shoulders,  and  with  an  impressive  venera- 
bleness  now  seldom  to  be  met  with,  (I  suppose  owing  to  dif- 
ferent habits,)  rose  in  that  assembly,  and,  with  the  air  of  a 
perfect  Puritan,  said  it  did  not  become  men.  professing  to  bo 


10      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

Christian  men,  who  had  come  together  for  solemn  deliberation 
in  the  hour  of  their  extremit3^  to  say  there  was  so  wide  a  dif- 
ference in  their  belief  that  they  could  not,  as  one  man,  bow 
the  knee  in  prayer  to  the  Almighty,  whose  advice  and  assist- 
ance they  hoped  to  obtain  ;  and,  independent  as  he  was,  and 
an  enemy  to  all  prelacy  as  he  was  known  to  be,  he  moved  that 
Rev.  Mr.  Dushe,  of  the  Episcopal  church,  should  address  the 
Throne  of  Grace  in  prayer.  John  Adams,  in  his  letter  to  his 
wife,  says  he  never  saw  a  more  moving  spectacle.  Mr.  Dushe 
read  the  Episcopal  service  of  the  church  of  England  ;  and 
then,  as  if  moved  by  the  occasion,  he  broke  out  into  extempo- 
raneous prayer,  and  those  men  who  were  about  to  resort  to 
force  to  obtain  their  rights  were  moved  to  tears  ;  and  floods 
of  tears,  he  says,  ran  down  the  cheeks  of  pacific  Quakers,  who 
formed  part  of  that  interesting  assembly  ;  and  depend  upon  it, 
that  where  there  is  a  spirit  of  Christianity,  there  is  a  spirit 
which  rises  above  form,  above  ceremonies,  independent  of  sect 
or  creed,  and  the  controversies  of  clashing  doctrines."  That 
same  clergyman  was  afterwards  appointed  chaplain  of  the 
American  Congress.  He  had  such  an  appointment  five  days 
after  the  declaration  of  independence. 

On  December  22,  1776  ;  on  December  13,  1784 ;  and  on 
February  29,  1788,  it  was  resolved  that  two  chaplains  should 
be  appointed.  So  far  for  the  old  American  Congress.  I  do 
fiot  deem  it  out  of  place  to  notice  one  act,  of  many,  to  show 
that  that  Congress  was  not  indiiferent  to  the  religious  inter- 
ests of  the  people ;  and  they  were  not  peculiarly  afraid 
of  the  charge  of  uniting  Church  and  State.  On  the  11th  of 
September,  1777,  a  committee  having  consulted  with  Dr.  Alli- 
son about  printing  an  edition  of  thirty  thousand  Bibles,  and 
finding  that  they  would  be  compelled  to  send  abroad  for  type 
and  paper,  with  an  advance  of  £10,272  10s.,  Congress  voted  to 
instruct  the  Committee  on  Commerce  to  import  twenty  thou- 
sand Bibles  from  Scotland  and  Holland  into  the  different  ports 
of  the  Union.  The  reason  assigned  was,  that  the  use  of  the 
book  was  so  universal  and  important.  Now,  what  was  passing 
on  that  day?  The  army  of  Washington  was  fighting  the 
battle  of  Brandy  wine;  the  gallant  soldiers  of  the  Revolution 
were  displaying  their  heroic  though  unavailing  valor;  twelve 
hundred  soldiers  were  stretched  in  death  on  that  battle-field  ; 
Lafayette  was  bleeding  ;  the  booming  of  the  cannon  was  heard 
in  the  hall  where  Congress  was  sitting — in  the  hall  from 
which  Congress  was  soon  to  be  a  fugitive  ;  at  that  important 
hour  Congress  was  passing  an  order  for  importing  twenty 
thousand  Bibles ;  and  yet  we  have  never  heard  that  they 
were  charged  by  their  generation  of  any  attempt  to  unite 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      11 

Church  and  State,  or  surpassing  their  powers  to  legislate  on 
religious  matters. 

There  was  a  convention  assembled  between  the  old  and 
new  forms  of  government.  Considering  the  character  of  the 
men,  the  work  in  which  they  were  engaged,  and  the  results 
of  their  labors,  I  think  them  the  most  remarkable  body  of 
men  ever  assembled.  Benjamin  Franklin  addressed  that  body 
on  the  subject  of  employing  chaplains;  and,  certainly,  Franklin 
will  not  be  accused  of  fanaticism  in  religion,  or  of  a  wish  to 
unite  Church  and  State.  I  give  his  words  as  reported  by 
Madison. 

Debates  in  the  Federal  Convention^  June  28,  1787. 

Dr.  Franklin  said :  Mr.  President,  the  small  progress  we 
have  made  after  four  or  five  weeks'  close  attendance,  and  con- 
tinual reasonings  with  each  other,  our  different  sentiment  on 
almost  every  question — several  of  the  last  producing  as  many 
noes  as  ayes — is,  methinks,  a  melancholy  proof  of  the  imper- 
fection of  the  human  understanding.  We,  indeed,  seem  to 
feel  our  want  of  political  wisdom,  since  we  have  been  running 
about  in  search  of  it.  We  have  gone  back  to  ancient  history 
for  models  of  government,  and  examined  the  different  forms 
of  those  republics  which,  having  been  formed  with  the  seeds 
of  their  own  dissolution,  now  no  longer  exist.  And  we  have 
viewed  modern  States  all  round  Europe,  but  find  none  of  their 
constitutions  suitable  to  our  circumstances.  In  this  situation 
of  this  assembly,  groping,  as  it  were,  in  the  dark  to  find  po- 
litical truth,  and  scarce  able  to  distinguish  it  when  presented 
to  us,  how  has  it  happened,  sir,  that  we  have  not  hitherto 
once  thought  of  humbly  applying  to  the  Father  of  Lights  to 
illuminate  our  understandings  ?  In  the  beginning  of  the  con- 
test with  Great  Britain,  when  we  were  sensible  of  danger,  we 
had  daily  prayer  in  this  room  for  divine  protection.  Our 
prayers,  sir,  were  heard,  and  they  were  graciously  answered. 
All  of  us  who  were  engaged  in  the  struggle  must  have  ob- 
served frequent  instances  of  a  superintending  Providence  in 
our  favor.  To  that  kind  Providence  we  owe  this  happy  op- 
portunity of  consulting  in  peace  on  the  means  of  establishing 
our  future  national  felicity.  And  have  we  now  forgotten  that 
powerful  friend  ?  Or  do  we  imagine  that  we  no  longer  need 
his  assistance  ? 

"I  have  lived,  sir,  a  long  time,  and  the  longer  I  live  the 
more  convincing  proofs  I  see  of  this  truth — that  God  governs 
in  the  affairs  of  men;  and  if  a  sparrow  cannot  fall  to  the 
{^ round  without  His  notice,  is  it  probable  that  an  empire  can 


12  CHAPLAINS   OF   THE   GENERAL   GOVERNMENT. 

rise  without  His  aid  ?  "We  have  been  assured,  sir,  in  the 
sacred  writings,  that  '  except  the  Lord  build  the  house,  they 
labor  in  rain  that  build  it.'  I  firmly  believe  this  ;  and  I  also 
believe  that  without  His  concurring  aid,  we  shall  succeed  in 
this  pohtical  building  no  better  than  the  builders  of  Babel. 
We  shall  be  divided  by  our  little  partial  local  interests,  our 
projects  will  be  confounded,  and  we  ourselves  shall  become  a 
reproach  and  by-word  down  to  future  ages.  And,  what  is 
worse,  mankind  may  hereafter,  from  this  unfortunate  instance, 
despair  of  establishing  governments  by  human  wisdom,  and 
leave  it  to  chance,  war  and  conquest. 

"  I  therefore  beg  leave  to  move,  that  henceforth  prayers, 
imploring  the  assistance  of  Heaven  and  blessings  on  our  de- 
liberations, be  held  in  this  assembly  every  morning  before  we 
proceed  to  business,  and  that  one  or  more  of  the  clergy  of 
this  city  be  requested  to  officiate  in  that  service." — ElliotVs 
Debates,  vol.  5,  p.  253. 

There  certainly  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  practice  of  em- 
ploying chaplains  in  deliberative  bodies  previous  to  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution.  We  are,  then,  prepared  to  see  if 
any  change  was  made  in  that  respect  in  the  new  order  of 
affairs. 

The  first  Congress  under  the  constitution  began  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1789 ;  but  there  was  not  a  quorum  for  business  till 
the  1st  of  April.  On  the  9th  of  that  month  Oliver  Ellsworth 
was  appointed,  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  to  confer  with  a 
committee  of  the  House,  on  rules,  and  on  the  appointment  of 
chaplains.  The  House  chose  five  men — Boudinot,  Bland, 
Tucker,  Sherman  and  Madison.  The  result  of  their  consulta- 
tion was  a  recommendation  to  appoint  two  chaplains  of  dif- 
ferent denominations — one  by  the  Senate  and  one  by  the 
House — to  interchange  weekly.  The  Senate  appointed  Dr. 
Provost,  on  the  25th  of  April. 

On  the  1st  day  of  May,  Washington's  first  speech  was  read 
to  the  House,  and  theirs/  business  after  that  speech  was  the 
appointment  of  Dr.  Linn  as  chaplain.  By  whom  was  this  plan 
made?  Three  out  of  six  of  that  joint  committee  were  mem- 
bers of  the  convention  that  framed  the  constitution.  Madi- 
son, Ellsworth  and  Sherman  passed  directly  from  the  hall  of 
the  convention  to  the  hall  of  Congress.  Did  they  not  know 
what  was  constitutional  %  The  law  of  1789  was  passed  in 
compliance  with  their  plan,  giving  chaplains  a  salary  of  ^500. 
It  was  re-enacted  in  1816,  and  continues  to  the  present  time. 
Chaplains  have  been  appointed  from  all  the  leading  denomin- 
ations— Methodist,  Baptist,  Episcopalian,  Presbyterian,  Con- 
gregationalist,  Catholic,  Unitarian,  and  others. 


CHAPLAINS   OF   THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  13 

I  am  aware  that  one  of  our  petitioners  might  truly  reply 
that  the  article  was  not  in  the  body  of  the  constitution,  but 
was  one  of  the  amendments  recommended  by  Virginia.  This 
does  not  weaken  the  argument  in  favor  of  chaplains.  In  the 
convention  of  Virginia,  which  proposed  amendments,  James 
Madison,  James  Monroe,  and  John  Marshall  were  members. 
All  these  men  were  members  closely  connected  with  the  gov- 
ernment. Madison  and  Monroe  were  members  of  Congress 
when  the  first  amendment  was  adopted  and  became  a  part  of 
the  constitution.  Madison  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
framing  the  constitution,  of  the  convention  proposing  the 
amendment,  and  of  Congress  when  adopted  ;  and  yet  neither 
Madison  nor  Monroe  ever  uttered  a  word  or  gave  a  vote  to  in- 
dicate that  the  appointment  of  chaplains  was  unconstitutional. 
The  convention  of  Virginia  elected  on  its  first  day  a  chaplain — 
Rev.  Abner  Waugh — who  every  morning  read  prayers  imme- 
diately after  the  ringing  of  the  bell  for  calling  the  convention. 
No  one  will  suppose  that  convention  so  inconsistent  as  to  ap- 
point their  chaplain  for  their  own  deliberative  assembly  in  the 
State  of  Virginia,  and  then  recommend  that  this  should  be  de- 
nied to  the  deliberative  bodies  of  the  nation. 

The  reason  more  generally  urged,  is  the  danger  of  a  union 
of  church  and  State.  If  the  danger  were  real,  we  should  be 
disposed  to  take  the  most  prompt  and  decided  measures  to 
forestall  the  evil,  because  one  of  the  worst  things  for  the  religi- 
ous and  political  interests  of  this  nation  that  could  possibly 
overtake  us.  But  we  deem  this  apprehension  entirely  imagi- 
nary ;  and  we  think  any  one  of  the  petitioners  must  be  con- 
vinced of  this  on  examination  of  the  facts.  Look  at  that  score 
of  different  denominations,  and  tell  us,  do  you  believe  it  pos- 
sible to  make  a  majority  agree  in  forming  a  league  to  unite 
their  religious  interests  with  those  of  the  State  ?  If  you  take 
from  the  larger  sects,  you  must  select  some  three  or  four  of 
the  largest  to  make  a  majority  of  clergy,  or  laity,  or  worship- 
pers. And  these  sects  are  widely  separated  in  their  doctrines, 
their  religious  rites,  and  in  their  church  discipline.  How  do 
you  expect  them  to  unite  for  any  such  object?  If  you  take 
the  smaller  sects,  you  must  unite  some  fifteen  to  make  a  ma- 
jority, and  you  must  take  such  discordant  materials  as  the 
Quaker,  the  Jew,  the  Universalist,  the  Unitarian,  the  Tunker, 
and  the  Swedenborgian.  Does  any  one  suppose  it  possible  to 
make  these  harmonize  1  If  not,  there  can  be  no  union  of 
church  and  State.  Your  committee  know  of  no  denomination 
of  Christians  who  wish  for  such  union.  They  have  had  their 
existence  in  the  voluntary  system,  and  wish  it  to  continue. 
The  sentiment  of  the  whole  body  of  American  Christians  is 


14  CHAPLAINS    OF   THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

against  a  union  with  the  State.  A  great  change  has  been 
wrought  in  this  respect.  At  the  adoption  of  the  constitution, 
we  believe  every  State — certainly  ten  of  the  thirteen — provid- 
ed as  regularly  for  the  support  of  the  church,  as  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  government :  one,  Virginia,  had  the  system  of 
tithes.  Down  to  the  Revolution,  every  colony  did  sustain  re- 
ligion in  some  form.  It  was  deemed  peculiarly  proper  that 
the  religion  of  liberty  should  be  upheld  by  a  free  people.  Had 
the  people,  during  the  Revolution,  had  a  suspicion  of  any  at- 
tempt to  war  against  Christianity,  that  Revolution  would  have 
been  strangled  in  its  cradle.  At  the  time  of  the  adoption  of 
the  constitution  and  the  amendments,  the  universal  sentiment 
was  that  Christanity  should  be  encouraged — not  any  one  sect. 
Any  attempt  to  level  and  discard  all  religion,  would  have  been 
viewed  with  universal  indignation.  The  object  was  not  to 
substitute  Judaism,  or  Mohammedanism,  or  infidelity,  but  to 
prevent  rivalry  among  sects  to  the  exclusion  of  others.  The 
result  of  the  change  above  named  is,  that  now  there  is  not  a 
single  State  that,  as  a  State,  supports  the  gospel.  In  1816 
Connecticut  repealed  her  law  which  was  passed  to  sustain  the 
church  ;  and  in  1833^  Massachusetts  wiped  from  her  statute- 
book  the  last  law  on  the  subject  that  existed  in  the  whole 
Union.  Every  one  will  notice  that  this  is  a  very  great  change 
to  be  made  in  so  short  a  period — greater  than,  tve  believe,  was 
ever  before  made  in  ecclesiastical  affairs  in  sixty-five  years, 
wi-thout  a  revolution  or  some  great  convulsion.  This  change 
has  been  made  silently  and  noiselessly,  with  the  consent  and 
wish  of  all  parties,  civil  and  religious.  From  this  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  tendency  of  the  times  is  not  to  a  union  of  church 
and  State,  but  is  decidedly  and  strongly  bearing  in  an  opposite 
direction.  Every  tie  is  sundered  ;  and  there  is  no  wish  on 
either  side  to  have  the  bond  renewed.  It  seems  to  us  that  the* 
men  who  would  raise  the  cry  of  danger  in  this  state  of  things, 
would  cry  fire  on  the  thirty-ninth  day  of  a  general  deluge. 

If  there  be  no  constitutional  objection  and  no  danger,  why 
should  not  the  office  be  continued  ?  It  is  objected  that  we 
pay  money  from  the  treasury  for  this  office.  That  is  certainly 
true  ;  and  equally  true  in  regard  to  the  Sergeant-at-Arms  and 
Doorkeeper,  who,  with  the  chaplain,  are  appointed  under  the 
general  authority  to  organize  the  House.  Judge  Thompson, 
chairman  of  this  committee  in  the  thirty-first  Congress,  in  a 
very  able  report  on  this  subject,  said  that  if  the  cost  of  chap- 
lains to  Congress  were  equally  divided  among  the  people,  it 
would  not  be  more  than  the  two  hundredth  part  of  one  cent  to 
each  person.  That  being  true,  a  man  who  lives  under  the  pro- 
tection of  this  government  and  pays  taxes  for  fifty  years,  will 


CHAPLAINS  OP  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      15 

have  to  lay  aside  from  his  hard  earnings  two  and  a  half  mills 
during  his  half  century  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  chaplains 
in  Congress  !  This  is  the  weight  of  pecuniary  burden  which 
the  committee  are  called  to  lift  from  off  the  neck  of  the  people. 

If  there  be  a  God  who  hears  prayer — as  we  believe  there  is 
— we  submit,  that  there  never  was  a  deliberative  body  that  so 
eminently  needed  the  fervent  praj'ers  of  righteous  men  as  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States.  There  never  was  another  re- 
presentative assembly  that  had  so  many  and  so  widely  differ- 
ent interests  to  protect  and  to  harmonize,  and  so  many  local 
passions  to  subdue.  One  member  feels  charged  to  defend  the 
rights  of  the  Atlantic,  another  of  the  Pacific  coast ;  one  urges 
the  claims  of  constituents  on  the  borders  of  the  torrid,  another 
on  the  borders  of  the  frigid  zone ;  while  hundreds  have  the 
defence  of  local  and  varied  interests  stretching  across  an  en- 
tire continent.  If  personal  selfishness  or  ambition,  if  party 
or  sectional  views  alone,  bear  rule,  all  attempts  at  legislation 
will  be  fruitless,  or  bear  only  bitter  fruit.  If  wisdom  from 
above,  that  is  profitable  to  direct,  be  given  in  answer  to  the 
prayers  of  the  pious,  then  Congress  need  those  devotions,  as 
they  surely  need  to  have  their  views  of  personal  importance 
daily  chastened  by  the  reflection  that  they  are  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  a  Siipreme  Power,  that  rules  not  for  one  locality 
or  for  one  time,  but  governs  a  world  by  general  laws,  subject- 
ing all  motives  and  acts  to  an  omniscient  scrutiny,  and  holds 
all  agents  to  their  just  awards  by  an  irresistible  power. 

In  the  provisions  of  the  law  for  chaplains  in  -the  army,  the 
number  is  limited,  and  these  not  to  be  granted  unless  for 
"  most  destitute  places;"  and  then,  for  a  very  small  salary 
they  are  to  perform  the  double  service  of  clergymen  and 
schoolmasters.  While  every  political  office  under  all  admin- 
istrations is  filled  to  overflowing ;  while  the  ante-chambers  of 
the  departments  are  crowded  and  crammed  with  anxious  ap- 
plicants, waiting  for  additions,  or  resignations,  or  death,  to 
make  for  them  some  vacant  place,  it  is  of  recent  occurrence 
that  only  fourteen  of  the  twenty  posts  for  chaplains  were  sup- 
plied. 

We  presume  all  will  grant  that  it  is  proper  to  appoint  phy- 
sicians and  surgeons  in  the  army  and  navy.  The  power  to 
appoint  chaplains  is  just  the  same,  because  neither  are  ex- 
pressly named,  but  are  appointed  under  the  general  authority 
to  organize  the  array  and  navy,  and  we  deem  the  one  as  truly 
a  matter  of  necessity  as  the  other.  Napoleon  was  obliged  to 
establish  chaplains  for  his  army,  in  order  to  their  quiet  while 
making  his  winter  quarters  in  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  coun- 
try, and  that  army  had  been  drenched  in  the  infidelity  of  the 


16  CHAPLAINS   OF   THE   GENERAL   GOVERNMENT. 

French  revolution.  The  main  portion  of  our  troops,  though 
not  in  a  foreign  land,  are  stationed  on  the  extreme  frontiers, 
the  very  outposts  of  civilization ;  and  if  the  government  does 
not  furnish  them  moral  and  religious  instruction,  we  know  as 
a  practical  fact,  that  they  will  go  without  it. 

It  is  said  that  they  can  contribute  and  hire  their  own  chap- 
lains. Certainly  they  can,  and  their  own  physicians  and  sur- 
geons ;  but  if  we  throw  on  them  this  additional  burden,  are 
we  not  bound  to  increase  their  pay  to  meet  these  personal  ex- 
penses ?  We  may  supply  them  directly,  with  more  economy 
and  effect  than  we  can  do  it  indirectly.  We  trust  that  the 
military  force  of  the  United  States  will  never  be  engaged  in  a 
contest,  unless  in  such  an  one  that  devout  men  can  honestly 
invoke  the  God  of  battles  to  go  with  our  armies.  If  so,  it 
will  inspire  fortitude  and  courage  to  the  soldier  to  know  that 
the  righteous  man  is  invoking  the  Supreme  Power  to  succeed 
his  efforts.  If  our  armies  are  exposed  to  pestilential  climates 
or.  to  the  carnage  of  the  battle-field,  we  believe  it  the  duty  of 
government  to  send  to  the  sick,  aiid  wounded,  and  dying, 
that  spiritual  counsel  and  consolation  demanded  by  the 
strongest  cravings  of  our  nature. 

The  navy  have  still  stronger  claims  than  the  army  for  the 
supply  of  chaplains ;  a  large  portion  of  the  tirhe  our  ships-of- 
war  are  on  service  foreign  from  our  own  shore.  If  they  are 
in  the  ports  of  other  nations,  the  crews  cannot  be  disbanded 
to  worship  with  the  people  of  those  nations  j  and  if  they 
could,  the  instances  are  rare  in  which  the  sailors  could  under- 
stand the  language  in  which  the  devotions  are  conducted.  If 
you  do  not  afford  them  the  means  of  religious  service  while 
at  sea,  the  Sabbath  is,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  annihilated, 
and  we  do  not  allow  the  crews  the  free  exercise  of  religion. 

In  that  important  branch  of  service  the  government  is  edu- 
cating a  large  number  of  youth  who  are  hereafter  to  have  the 
control  of  our  navy.  They  are  taken  from  their  homes  at  a 
very  early  age,  when  their  minds  are  not  generally  instructed, 
or  their  opinions  formed  on  religious  affairs.  If  the  mature 
men  can  be  safely  deprived  of  such  privileges,  is  it  wise  or 
just  to  deprive  the  youth  of  all  means  of  moral  and  religious 
culture  ?  Naval  commanders  have  often  desired  to  have  their 
crews  unite  in  devotions  before  commencing  action.  They 
have  sometimes  done  it  when  there  was  no  chaplain  on  board. 
One  striking  instance  of  this  was  in  the  naval  action  on  Lake 
Champlain.  On  Sunday  morning,  September  11,  just  as  the 
sun  rose  over  the  eastern  mountains,  the  American  guard-boat 
on  the  watch  was  seen  rowing  swiftly  into  the  harbor.  It  re- 
ported the  enemy  in  sight.     The  drums  immediately  beat  to 


CHAPLAINS   OF   THE   GENERAL   GOVERNMENT.  17 

quarters,  and  every  vessel  was  cleared  for  action.  The  pre- 
parations being  completed,  young  McDonough  summoned  his 
officers  around  him,  and  there,  on  the  deck  of  the  Saratoga, 
read  the  prayers  of  the  ritual  before  entering  into  battle ; 
and  that  voice,  which  soon  after  rang  like  a  clarion  amid  the 
carnage,  sent  heavenward,  in  earnest  tones :  ''  Stir  up  thy 
strength,  0  Lord,  and  come  and  help  us ;  for  thou  givest  not 
always  the  battle  to  the  strong,  but  canst  save  by  many  or  by 
few."  It  was  a  solemn,  thrilling  sight,  and  one  never  before 
witnessed  on  a  vessel  of  war  cleared  for  action.  A  young 
commander  who  had  the  courage  thus  to  brave  the  derision 
and  sneers  which  such  an  act  was  sure  to  provoke,  would  fight 
his  vessel  while  there  was  a  plank  left  to  stand  on.  Of  the 
deeds  of  daring  done  on  that  day  of  great  achievements,  none 
evinced  so  bold  and  firm  a  heart  as  this  act  of  religious 
worship. 

While  your  committee  believe  that  neither  Congress  nor 
the  army  or  navy  should  be  deprived  of  the  service  of  chap- 
lains, they  freely  concede  that  the  ecclesiastical  and  civil 
powers  have  been,  and  should  continue  to  be,  entirely  di- 
vorced from  each  other.  But  we  beg  leave  to  rescue  our- 
selves from  the  imputation  of  asserting  that  religion  is  not 
needed  to  the  safety  of  civil  society.  It  must  be  considered 
as  the  foundation  on  which  the  whole  structure  rests.  Laws 
will  not  have  permanence  or  power  without  the  sanction  of 
rehgious  sentiment — without  a  firm  belief  that  there  is  a 
Power  above  us  that  will  reward  our  virtues  and  punish  our 
vices.  In  this  age  there  can  be  no  substitute  for  Christianity ; 
that,  in  its  general  principles,  is  the  great  conservative  element 
on  which  we  must  rely  for  the  purity  and  permanence  of  free 
institutions.  That  was  the  religion  of  the  founders  of  the  re- 
public, and  they  expected  it  to  remain  the  religion  of  their 
descendants.  There  is  a  great  and  very  prevalent  error  on 
this  subject  in  the  opinion  that  those  who  organized  this  gov- 
ernment did  not  legislate  on  religion.  They  did  legislate  on  it  by 
making  it  free  to  all,  "  to  the  Jew  and  the  Greek,  to  the 
learned  and  unlearned."  The  error  has  risen  from  the  belief 
that  there  is  no  legislation  unless  in  permissive  or  restricting 
enactments.  But  making  a  thing  free  is  as  truly  a  part  of 
legislation  as  confining  it  by  limitations  ;  and  what  the  gov- 
ernment has  made  free,  it  is  bound  to  keep  free. 

Your  committee  recommend  the  following  resolution : 
Resolved,  That  the  committee  be  discharged  from  the  fur- 
ther consideration  of  the  subject. 


18  CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

After  having  given  the  foregoing  Report  an  attentive 
perusal,  we  have  a  right  to  presume  that  not  a  few  would 
reach  the  same  conclusion  with  ourselves,  that  the  objec- 
tions made  by  the  memorialists,  to  the  employment  of 
Chaplains  by  the  General  Government,  were  fully  answer- 
ed, and  that  petitions  of  this  kind  would  not  be  likely  soon 
to  follow.  But  such  was  not  the  fact.  It  will  be  kept  in 
mind  that  the  petitions  answered  by  this  Report  were  sent 
to  Congress  the  early  part  of  the  first  session  of  Congress, 
in  the  winter  of  1854.  At  the  organization  of  the  present 
Congress,  immediately  after  the  long  struggle  to  elect  a 
Speaker  was  decided,  among  other  proceedings  that  of 
electing  a  Chaplain  to  the  House  came  up  for  action ;  but 
before  the  election  was  made,  another  memorial  arrested 
the  attention  of  the  House,  praying  Congress  to  abolish 
the  office  of  Chaplains,  and  therefore  not  to  proceed  to  the 
election  then  under  consideration.  This  instrument  pro- 
ceeded from  a  sect  of  Christians  in  Tennessee,  who  are 
much  more  numerous  in  the  Southern  States  than  at  the 
North,  and  are  known  for  their  opposition  to  Missionary 
Societies,  Sunday  Schools,  and  indeed,  to  nearly  all  our 
modern  institutions.  They  are  variously  called  "  Anti- 
Mission  Baptists,"  "  Particular  Baptists,"  and  "  Hard- 
Shell  Baptists;"  but  from  their  strong  adherence  to 
"  Special  Grace"  and  predestination,  they  call  themselves 
"  Predestinarian  Baptists."  Their  own  statistics  give 
them  about  150,000  adherents  in  the  United  States. 

Hon.  Mr.  Etheridge,  by  whom  the  memorial  was  pre- 
sented said,  "  I  avail  myself,  sir,  of  the  present  occasion  to 
present  to  the  consideration  of  the  House  a  memorial  on 
this  subject,  which  I  received  this  morning  from  R.  L. 
Hendies,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  other  citizens 


CHAPLAINS   OF    THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  19 

of  the  county  of  Henderson,  in  the  State  of  Tennessee,  in 
which  they  protest  against  the  election  and  payment  of  a 
Chaplain  by  this  House.  I  only  received  it  this  morning, 
and  avail  myself  of  the  first  opportunity  to  present  it.  They 
are  from  that  section  of  the  country  in  which  the  people 
are  so  respectable  and  so  little  skilled  in  political  machinery, 
that  I  do  not  suppose  any  one  of  them  has  ever  before 
signed  a  memorial  to  be  presented  to  Congress  upon  any 
subject." 

It  is  hardly  worth  while  to  insert  the  entire  memorial  in 
this  place,  as  it  differs  not  materially  from  those  previously 
presented,  and  which  are  so  ably  answered  in  the  foregoing 
Report.  But,  lest  it  might  appear  as  if  we  were  unwilling 
to  introduce  into  these  pages  their  arguments  against  the 
employment  of  Chaplains,  space  shall  be  given  to  the 
strongest  points — which  read  as  follows : 

"  The  immense  increase  of  the  number  of  Chaplains  em- 
ployed by  the  Government  within  the  past  few  years,  has 
alarmed  us  to  apprehend  that  an  extension  of  the  system 
may  ultimately  subject  us  aU  to  the  serious  and  oppressive 
features  of  an  unholy  union  of  Church  and  State,  with 
which  the  world  has  been  so  grievously  burdened  in  all 
ages,  and  from  which  we  had  hoped  we  were  forever  de- 
livered by  the  glorious  epoch  of  the  American  Revolution. 

"  The  number  of  national  clergy  which  the  citizens  of  our 
country  are  annually  forced  to  support,  by  indirect  taxa- 
tion, is  as  follows :  Thirty  in  the  Army ;  twenty-four  in 
the  Navy,  and  two  in  Congress  (!)  besides  a  large  number  at 
the  various  naval  and  military  schools,  stations,  and  out- 
posts ;  and  at  various  missionary  stations,  ostensibly  as 
teachers  of  Indian  schools.  The  aggregate  amount  which 
we  are  annually  compelled  to  pay  for  the  support  of  clergy- 


20     CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

men,  as  officers  whicli  the  Constitution  gives  Congress  no 
power  to  create  or  impose  upon  us,  but  on  the  contrary, 
positively  prohibits,  cannot  therefore  vary  far  from  a  quar- 
ter of  a  million  of  dollars  annually !  Should  the  number 
of  national  Chaplains  continue  to  increase  in  the  ratio  of 
the  past  few  years,  it  will  soon  equal  that  of  the  national 
clergy  in  the  despotisms  of  the  old  world,  where  the  Church 
and  State  are  allies  in  corruption  and  oppression.  Indeed, 
we  know  of  no  stopping  place  or  limit  that  can  be  set  to 
arrest  its  progress,  when  precedent  has  overthrown  the 
protective  barriers  of  the  Constitution. 

"  "We  cannot  perceive  why  clergymen  should  be  sustained 
by  Government  in  either  House  of  Congress,  at  our  mihtary 
and  naval  stations,  on  board  our  vessels  of  war,  and  in  each 
regiment  of  our  army,  any  more  than  in  each  township, 
parish,  district,  or  village  throughout  the  land;  and  to 
sanction  the  former  could  not  be  regarded  otherwise  than 
as  an  assent  to  the  extension  of  the  same  system  that  would 
place  us  upon  a  level  with  the  priest-ridden  despotisms  of 
the  Old  World.  Our  members  of  Congress,  military  and 
naval  officers,  soldiery  and  seamen,  are,  or  should  be,  paid 
a  just  compensation  for  their  services,  and  be  left,  like  all 
other  citizens,  to  support  any  clergymen,  or  none,  as  their 
consciences  may  direct  them,  without  legal  agency  or  coer- 
cion. Neither  Christianity  nor  the  genius  of  our  institu- 
tions contemplates  any  aristocracy  predicated  upon  the 
clerical  profession,  and  no  special  provision  therefore  is  ne- 
cessary by  the  Government  to  admit  clergymen  to  our 
Army  and  Navy,  as  they  may  enlist  like  other  men,  and 
labor  like  Jesus  himself  and  his  apostles  among  the  poor 
fishermen  on  the  sea-side.  If  it  be  objected  that  few 
clergymen  ^vould  serve  among  the  troops  and  marines  upon 


CHAPLAINS  OP  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      21 

such  terms,  we  can  only  say  that,  if  actuated  by  correct 
religious  motives,  no  minister  would  wait  for  Government 
gold  to  lead  him  to  his  labors  of  love  among  them,  and 
that  none  but  hypocrites  would  be  debarred  by  the  want 
of  it.  We  think  the  Government  should  not  evince  more 
religious  zeal  than  professed  ministers  of  the  gospel  them- 
selves by  bribing  them  to  perform  religious  service.  If  the 
clergymen  in  the  Army  and  Navy  look  for  other  compen- 
sation than  the  voluntary  contribution  of  those  among 
whom  they  labor,  the  various  religious  societies  of  the 
country  might  be  more  appropriately  appealed  to,  as  their 
funds  are  voluntarily  contributed  for  such  purposes ;  while 
those  of  the  Government  are  taken  for  national  purposes, 
by  authority  of  law,  equally  from  all  classes  of  citizens  of 
whatever  sects,  and  whether  professors  or  non-professors  of 
religion." 

But  opposition  to  the  employment  of  Chaplains  to  Con- 
gress does  not  arise  from  these  petitions  alone.  There  is 
an  opposition  which  shows  itself  each  successive  year  in 
stronger  terms,  among  the  members  of  Congress.  At  the 
opening  of  each  of  the  two  or  three  last  congressional  terms, 
members  have  called  "the  election  of  Chaplains  all  a 
farce." 

While  some  members  were  for  staving  off  the  choice  of 
Chaplain  to  some  future  time,  Hon.  Mr.  Wentworth,  of 
Illinois,  with  a  ludicrous  air,  said — 

"  It  would  be  greatly  to  the  relief  of  members  if  we  dis- 
posed of  this  Chaplain  business.  [Laughter.]  The  candi- 
dates are  multiplying,  and  those  whose  names  are  now  be- 
fore us  are  getting  uneasy.  I  am  anxious  to  have  the 
matter  settled,  and  therefore  ask  that  the  rules  may  be 
suspended  to  take  up  the  Senate  resolution  so  that  the  re- 


22      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

jected  applicants  may  apply  for  some  other  office  if  they 
do  not  get  this."     [Laughter]. 

A  paper,  (the  "  Washington  Sentinel^^)  at  that  time 
regarded  as  the  special  organ  of  Senator  Douglas,  and 
which  had  belabored  with  gi*eat  industry  the  3,050  New 
England  clergymen  who  signed  the  remonstrance  to  the 
Nebraska-bill,  at  the  close  of  the  session  of  the  Congress 
which  passed  that  bill,  used  the  following  language  : — 

"  "We  are  altogether  opposed  to  having  Chaplains  to  the 
two  branches  of  our  National  Legislature.  We  hope  the 
last  of  them  have  been  elected.*  *  *  It  is  pretty  well  under- 
stood that  those  paid  for  prayers  are  to  be  made  brief,  cut 
off  shoi't^  in  order  to  avoid  boring  Congress.  Short  as  they 
are  (and  we  are  sorry  to  have  to  say  it)  they  are  bores.  It 
is  a  business  to  be  done  by  the  Minister^  and  the  sooner 
it  is  over  the  more  agreeable  to  all  parties."  The  Sentinel 
further  says  of  these  prayers  :  "  They  are  not  listened  to." 
He  proceeds  to  add  that  "  If  they  should  be  elected,  and 
they  should  belong  to  that  saintly  band,  the  three  thousand 
and  sixty-five  Anti- Nebraska  parsons,  then  perhaps  such 
an  election  would  be  more  potent  against  the  system  than 
any  argument  we  can  offer." 

Such  then  was  the  feeling  manifested  in  Congress  more 
than  three  years  ago.  But  this  feeling,  judging  from  what 
was  said  by  a  greater  number  of  members  than  had  ever 
before  entered  into  a  debate  of  this  kind,  at  the  opening  of 
the  last  Congress,  had  increased  four-fold. 

After  reading  the  foregoing  "  Report"  by  Mr.  Meacham, 
on  the  petitions  to  a  previous  Congress,  one  might  have 
supposed  that  the  question  relating  to  the  Chaplaincy 
would  be  put  somewhat  to  rest.  Another  uprising  of  op- 
position could  hardly  have  been  looked  for  again  so  soon. 


CHAPLAINS   OF   THE   GENERAL    QOYERNMENT.  23 

But  the  spirit  of  antagonism  had  gone  abroad,  and  it 
must  have  expression,  especially  in  the  popular  branch  of 
the  National  Legislature.  In  the  Senate  the  election  of 
Chaplain  was  sprung  upon  the  members  in  the  outset.  The 
name  of  a  Western  candidate  was  introduced  by  a  perse- 
vering senator,  and  his  claims,  which  commended  him  to 
the  favorable  consideration  of  a  majority  of  the  senators, 
had  only  to  be  presented,  to  receive  a  majority  of  the  votes. 

His  election  took  place  without  discussion  or  opposition. 
It  was  in  the  House  that  the  subject  took  a  wider  range. 
In  order  that  the  reader  may  have  a  clear  comprehension 
of  the  whole  question,  we  shall  make  liberal  quotations 
from  the  speeches  of  several  members  on  the  occasion,  to  be 
found  in  subsequent  pages. 

As  to  the  field  of  labor  thrown  open  to  all  the  chaplains 
employed  by  Government,  whether  at  Washington,  in  the 
Army  or  the  Navy,  we  doubt  if  it  be  sufficiently  under- 
stood, or  their  labors  duly  appreciated.  There  is  much 
which  a  Chaplain  can  do  in  each  of  the  before  named  de- 
partments of  the  G-overnment,  which  will  never  be  per- 
formed if  not  done  by  them.  They  can  go  where  other 
ministers,  not  appointed  to  the  office,  could  not  go ;  they 
can  occupy  places  which  other  clergymen  could  not 
reach.  Their  very  existence  in  the  Government  employ, 
commits  our  nation  to  the  recognition  of  Christianity  in 
distinction  from  Mohammedanism  and  Paganism.  The 
Government  recognizes  no  sect ;  it  only  employs  the  reli- 
gious teacher  which  we  as  a  nation  prefer.  The  alarmists 
about  the  union  of  Church  and  State  should  be  impressed, 
that  our  Government  only  defends  religious  liberty.  It 
does  not  define  religion.  A  colony  of  Mohammedans  would 
be  protected  in  erecting  a  mosque,  or  the  Chinese  a  pa 


24     CHAPLAINS  OP  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

goda,  as  soon  as  a  Catholic  in  erecting  a  cathedral,  or  an 
Episcopalian  in  consecrating  a  church,  or  a  Friend  Quaker 
in  sitting  quietly  in  a  "meeting-house." 

"We  have  stated  that  Chaplains  have  a  field  of  labor  pe- 
culiarly their  own.  Prayers  offered  up  to  the  Father  of 
all  men,  in  each  branch  of  the  National  Legislature  every 
morning  before  proceeding  to  the  important  work  of  legis- 
lating for  the  weal  or  woe  of  the  country,  has  its  use.  But 
preaching  the  Gospel  every  Sabbath  in  the  Capitol  to  the 
many  strangers  especially,  who  visit  Washington  while 
Congress  is  in  session,  if  to  no  others,  has  an  important  use, 
and  the  visits  which  the  Chaplain,  who  does  his  duty, 
makes  to  the  bedside  of  the  sick  and  sometimes  dying 
member  of  Congress,  who  may  have  arrived  in  Washing- 
ton a  stranger  from  some  remote  part  of  the  country,  has 
not  unfrequently  had  a  special  use. 

In  the  Navy — ^if  it  is  desirable  that  a  congregation  of 
men,  numbering  as  they  usually  do,  in  sea-going  ships, 
from  five  to  eight  hundred,  and  sometimes  a  thousand,  all 
accustomed  to  the  usages  of  a  Christian  nation,  should  be 
favored  with  the  ordinary  means  of  grace  on  the  Sabbath ; 
to  be  visited  and  advised  when  sick,  and  to  have  a 
Christian  burial  when  committed  to  their  ocean  grave, 
then  a  minister  of  rehgion  must  be  with  them  in  their  long 
cruises  through  unhealthy  latitudes;  and  when  far  away 
from  the  sound  of  the  church-going  bell,  obey  the  sum- 
mons proceeding  from  the  quarter-deck,  for  all  hands  to 
attend  on  the  public  worship  of  Grod.  Who  but  appointed 
Chaplains  can  officiate  here  ? 

We  have  done  some  humble  service  (not  as  Chaplain,) 
in  the  Navy.  We  have  seen  many  a  youthful  sailor, 
who  in  his  waywardness  had  wandered  from  home,  and  ere 


CHAPLAINS   OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  25 

long  found  himself  shipped  into  the  naval  service.  After 
long  and  tedious  duty  had  sobered  him  down  to  the  reflect- 
ing point,  or  the  sudden  changes  from  easy  to  hard  labor 
as  well  as  that  of  an  unhealthy  climate,  had  brought  him 
upon  the  "  sick  list," — there,  on  the  high  seas,  or  in  a  foreign 
port,  on  coming  thoroughly  to  himself,  he  welcomes  with 
true  cordiality  the  man  who  in  a  quiet  manner  goes  to 
his  couch  to  speak  of  his  mother's  councils,  his  father's 
advice,  of  Sabbath  privileges  perhaps,  neglected,  and  of  a 
sin-pardoning  Grod.  How  shall  we  calculate  the  import- 
ance, the  worth  of  this  timely  visitation  of  a  Chaplain, 
charged  with  duties  of  this  nature  i 

If  the  objectors  to  the  employment  of  Chaplains,  were  to 
receive  the  last  message  of  a  dying  son  or  brother  from 
the  hand  of  these  ambassadors  of  Christ, — to  whom  such 
words  are  usually  uttered, — would  they  fe«l  any  regret  that 
the  government  provides  for  the  sustenance  of  sach  men, 
while  accompanying  these  hundreds  of  seamen  through 
their  perilous  voyages  round  the  world  ?  We  cannot  be- 
lieve they  would.  / 

The  same  train  of  thought  will  apply  with  equal  truth 
and  propriety  to  Chaplains  in  the  Army,  affording  still  less 
grounds  of  objection,  inasmuch  as  they  are  almost  con- 
stantly employed  as  the  teachers  of  children  at  the  mili- 
tary posts  especially"  many  of  which  are  far  out  beyond  the 
limits  of  civilized  life  on  our  Western  domain. 

But  it  is  objected  that  these  Chaplains  do  not  all  do 
their  duty — do  not  faithfully  perform  the  important  work 
assigned  them.  This  objection  is  gratuitous.  It  hardly 
deserves  to  be  considered  in  this  place,  for  it  is  admitted 
that  there  may  be  found  among  Chaplains,  as  among  other 
ministers  of  religion  in  other  positions,  those  who  neglect 

2 


26      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

their  duty,  who  do  not  feel  the  importance  of  the  work 
committed  to  their  hands.  These  may,  like  all  unworthy 
and  unfaithful  men,  bring  a  reproach  on  the  cause  they 
should  honor  and  promote.  But  persisting  in  their  inef- 
ficiency and  unsuitableness  for  the  work,  they  will  not  long 
be  sustained.  They  will  soon  find  their  level,  and  their 
stewardship  given  to  another. 

But  there  is  another  view  to  be  taken  of  this  business  of 
employing  Chaplains.  There  are  grounds  of  complaint — 
not  to  the  employment  of  Chaplains,  but  to  the  manner  in 
which  they  reach  that  employment,  or  the  way  they  obtain 
their  election  to  a  place  of  so  much  importance  to  Chris- 
tian nations,  and,  it  might  be  added,  to  the  heathen  world. 
It  is  to  the  subject  of  this  complaint  we  shall  now  turn 
our  attention. 

There  are  at  this  time  fifty-seven  Chaplains  employed 
by  the  General  Government — thirty  in  the  Army, 
thirty-four  in  the  Navy,  and  two  in  Congress,  and 
one  in  the  Penitentiary  of  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia. That  these  are  important  positions,  each  requir- 
ing men  of  as  high  an  order  of  piety  and  good 
works,  of  various  learning,  and  every  endowment  and 
qualification  which  will  render  them  apt  to  teach  as  any 
other  position  which  the  providence  of  God  may  ever  open 
to  any  Christian  minister  to  fill,, no  one,  we  think,  will  take 
it  upon  himself  to  deny.  Yet  all  these  chaplaincies  are 
filled  in  a  way  which  render  it  possible  that  it  may  be  done 
by  the  managing  of  political  wire-pullers,  with  very  little, 
if  any,  reference  to  the  appropriate  qualifications  of  those 
who  receive  the  appointment.  It  is  true  that  the  Heads 
of  the  Departments  hold,  under  the  President,  the  appoint- 
ing power  in  each  of  the  several  departments  over  which 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      27 

they  preside.  But  unless  the  applicant  be  a  clergyman  of 
his  acquaintance,  how  is  the  Secretary  to  know  of  the  ap- 
plicant's qualifications,  or  his  adaptedness  to  fill  the  place 
to  which  he  aspires  ?  Through  others  only.  Now,  who 
are  those  others  that  the  applicant  may  employ  to  reach  the 
ear  of  the  Secretary,  and  obtain  his  appointment  ?  They 
are  the  men  who  will  have  the  greatest  influence  with  the 
Secretary.     Should  any  aspirant  have  the  good  fortune  to 

make  Senator his  friend,  or  any  other  man  of  the 

Administration  party,  who  might  be  supposed  to  have  as 
much  influence  as  he,  then,  irrespective  of  all  the  other 
more  sacred  considerations^  this  will  settle  the  ques- 
tion of  the  appointment.  Chaplains  in  the  Navy  more  es- 
pecially, down  to  a  certain  year,  between  1820  and  1830, 
were  chosen  without  any  special  regard  to  their  religious 
creed  or  character.  Some  petty  officer,  a  captain's  clerk, 
or  purser's  steward,  or  some  other  such  man,  as  a  reward 
for  well-doing,  has  been  allowed  to  officiate  as  Chaplain, 
which  consisted  in  reading  prayers,  generally  from  the 
Episcopal  "Book  of  Common  Prayer,"  especially  the 
burial  service,  before  committing  the  body  of  a  deceased 
person  "  to  the  deep,"  by  which  he  received  the  extra  pay 
of  the  Chaplain's  salary.  Reading  the  Episcopal  Church 
service,  they  might  have  called  themselves  Episcopa- 
lians. But  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  now  to  assign  many 
of  those  who  served  as  Chaplains,  especially  in  the  Navy 
previous  to  about  the  year  1825,  to  any  religious  sect. 

About  the  year  1826  a  rule  began  to  be  observed,  requir- 
ing that  no  person  should  be  elected  Chaplain,  unless  be  were 
regularly  ordained  Minister*  of  some  Evangelical  denom- 

*  There  is  no  law  to  this  effect ;  but  one  of  the  oldest  Chaplains  in 
the  Navy,  now  in  service,  furnished  us  with  this  information. 


28     CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

ination.  The  Chaplains  who  have  been  appointed  subse- 
quent to  that  date  have  generally  possessed  a  higher  order 
of  character. 

It  will  be  seen,  then,  that  the  applicant  for  a  Chaplaincy 
must  show  a  clean  record  on  the  books  of  his  own  Church 
as  an  accredited  minister.  He  should  also  take  with  him 
to  Washington  such  recommendations  as  he  can  readily 
obtain ;  but  ihejinale  lies  between  the  Secretary  and  that 
pohtical  friend  who  can  bring  the  most  influence  to  bear 
upon  the  Secretary's  mind. 

How  different  is  the  case  when  a  minister  goes  to  take 
charge  of  the  humblest  church  and  congregation  in  the 
land.  His  character  and  qualifications  are  made  to  pass 
in  a  severe  review  before  a  council  of  his  brethren,  and 
this,  too,  after  he  has  preached  several  trial  seraions  as  a 
candidate,  before  the  important  question  of  a  final  choice 
is  concluded. 

As  with  the  candidates  for  the  Navy,  so  with  those  for 
the  Army,  except  that  a  Chaplain  for  the  Army  is  required 
to  possess  certain  literary  quaUfications  for  a  school  teacher, 
which,  doubtless,  subjects  him  to  an  examination  in  this 
behalf.* 

*AN  ACT 
To  increase  the  present  Military  Establishment  of  the  United  States 
and  for  other  purposes. 
Sec.  18. — AtuI  be  it  further  enacted,  That  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the 
oflBcers  composing  the  Council  of  Administration  at  any  post,  from  time 
to  time,  to  employ  such  person  as 'they  may  think  proper  to  officiate  as 
Chaplain — who  shall  also  perform  the  duties  of  schoolmaster  at  such  post ; 
and  the  person  so  employed  shall  on  the  certificate  of  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  post  be  paid  such  sum  for  his  services,  not  exceeding  forty 
dollars  per  month,  as  may  be  determined  by  the  said  Council  Adminis- 
tration with  the  approval  of  the  Secretary  of  War— and  in  addition  to  hia 
pay,  the  said  Chaplain  shall  be  allowed  four  rations  per  diem  with  quar- 
ters and  fuel.    Approved,  July  5,  1838. 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      29 

There  is  no  rule  of  reasoning  which  can  justify  this  sum- 
mary manner  of  appointing  Chaplains  to  such  important 
fields  of  labor.  If  a  physician  is  to  receive  an  appointment 
in  the  Navy,  he  is  subjected  to  the  strict  examination  of  a 
competent  Board  of  Surgeons.  If  the  Cadets  at  West 
Point,  who  are  to  make  the  future  officers  in  the  Army, 
are  to  be  examined,  (to  whom  these  Chaplains  are  to  preach 
the  Gospel,)  a  Board  of  literary  and  scientific  men  from  all 
parts  of  the  United  States,  are  summoned  in  order  that  the 
Government  may  secure  a  creditable  and  thorough  exami- 
nation. But  if  a  minister  of  Christ  is  to  be  chosen  to  ac- 
company a  regiment  of  soldiers  through  all  their  exposures 
to  death,  or  to  accompany  a  crew  of  four,  five,  or  eight 
hundred  or  a  thousand  men  through  tw^o  or  three  years' 
service,  in  charge  of  their  religious  instruction,  there  is  to 
be  no  trial  sermon,  no  examination  of  the  candidate  as  to 
his  various  necessary  qualifications  or  his  adaptedness  to 
the  delicate  and  important  work  assigned  him.  The  whole 
matter  is  to  be  negotiated  and  settled  by  men  who,  per- 
chance, may  or  may  not  be  believers ;  who  may  or  may 
not  have  any  very  great  respect  for  religion,  or  for  the 
present  and  eternal  salvation  of  our  race.     To  all  those 

A  subsequent  act  of  the  same  session  reads  as  follows*. 

Second — The  posts  at  which  Chaplains  shall  be  allowed  shall  be  limited 
to  the  number  of  twenty.  And  shall  be  first  approved  by  the  Secretary 
of  War,  and  shall  be  confined  to  places  most  destitute  of  instruction. 

AN  ACT 
To  provide  for  an  increase  of  the  Medical  Staff,  and  for  an  additional 
number  of  Chaplains  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States. 
Sec.  3. — And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  provisions  of  the  act  of 
eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-eight  be  and  hereby  are  extended,  so  as  to 
authorize  the  employment  of  ten  additional  Chaplains  for  military  posta 
of  the  United  States.     Approved,  March  2,  1849. 


30  CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

then  who  believe  in  the  importance  of  that  life  and  im- 
mortality which  are  brought  to  light  through  the  gospel^ 
we  venture  to  propound  the  following  query.  Why  should 
there  not  be  a  Board  of  Clergymen  made  up  of  the  Chap- 
lains who  are  on  furlough  ashore,  together  with  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  other  regular  clergy  to  embrace  most  of 
the  leading  denominations  of  the  land,  (and  they  can  nearly 
all  be  found  in  the  District  of  Columbia,)  before  whom  a 
candidate  for  a  chaplaincy  in  the  Anny  or  Navy  should 
appear ;  and  that  none  but  such  as  can  cany  up  from  this 
Board  a  certificate  of  recommendation  to  the  secretaries 
could  be  regarded  as  eligible  to  the  office.  Then  this  im- 
portant office  would  be  protected  from  mere  political  influ- 
ence and  control.  These  places  would  then  be  filled  with 
men  whom  educated  officers  in  the  Army  and  those  upon 
the  quarter-deck,  as  well  as  soldiers  and  sailors  generally, 
might,  without  a  risk  of  conferring  the  distinction  unde- 
servedly, treat  with  the  deference  and  respect  due  their 
position,  for  they  would  not  probably  be  ministers  whose 
spirit  and  whose  good  works  would  secure  the  respect  and 
esteem  which  is  almost  unconsciously  awarded  to  a  pure 
mind,  enlightened  piety  and  to  sterling  moral  worth. 

But  tm-ning  from  the  Army  and  Navy,  let  us  look  at  the 
manner  in  which  the  two  Chaplains  to  Congress,  and  also 
we  might  add,  the  Chaplain  who  is  appointed  to  the  Peni- 
tentiary at  Washington,  reach  their  election.  The  same 
course  of  electioneering  which  the  Clerk  of  the  House, 
the  Doorkeeper,  or  Sergeant-at-Arms  has  to  pursue,  namely, 
to  scramble  for  it.  Letters  are  written  beforehand  solicit- 
ing votes.  The  successful  candidate  must  be  on  hand  to 
meet  his  "  friends"  as  they  alight  from  the  cars  at  the  rail- 
road station,  who  follow  him  to  his  hotel,  and  who  will  not 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      31 

hesitate  to  stand  in  a  bar-room  and  talk  distinctly  of  "  his 
devotion  to  the  party."  But  the  successful  candidate  is 
not  usually  the  man  whom  his  own  denomination  even,  not 
to  say  the  Christian  community  generally,  would  wish  to 
see  at  such  a  post.  An  article  appeared  in  the  National 
Intelligencer  on  the  morning  of  the  opening  of  the  last 
Session  of  Congress,  which  contains  thoughts  and  sug- 
gestions on  this  subject,  portions  of  which  we  will  transfer 
to  these  pages ;  as  it  contains  just  the  views  we  should  pre- 
fer to  have  occupy  this  place. 

Whatever  may  be  the  scepticism  of  some  minds  respect- 
ing religious  matters,  and  the  opposition  to  the  employment 
of  Chaplains  which  has  arisen  from  that  source,  it  does  not 
all  come  from  religious  infidelity.  The  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  the  best  men  in  the  country  has  lessened  in  the 
same  ratio  as  this  Congressional  usage  has  been  subjected 
to  political  wire-pulling  and  strife.  It  is  now  well  under- 
stood that  modest  merit,  eminent  piety,  and  that  kind  of 
talent  which  is  best  adapted  to  the  position,  is  no  longer 
sought  for  in  a  Chaplain  to  Congress.  But  the  successful 
candidate  is  he  who  has  a  face  to  enter  the  ring  of  compe- 
titors ;  who  knows  how  to  lay  his  hand  upon  the  right 
wires,  and  has  strength  to  pull  harder  than  the  others  who 
may  be  contending  with  him  for  the  prize.  We  do  not  in- 
tend to  signify  that,  if  a  clergyman  desires  to  spend  a  sea- 
son in  Washington  while  Congress  is  in  session,  it  is  mo- 
rally criminal  in  him  to  desire,  or  even  to  "  strive  lawfully" 
to  preach  the  Gospel  in  the  Capitol,  and  receive  the  com- 
pensation which  will  sustain  him  while  doing  it.  But  the 
point  of  objection  lies  in  this  :  It  has  now  come  to  pass, 
that  whoever  gains  the  position  of  Chaplain,  obtains  it  by 
caucasing  and  securing  the  votes  of  members  in  the  same 


32  CHAPLAINS   OF   THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENr. 

manner  as  the  Clerk  or  Doorkeeper  obtain  their  elections. 
It  will  not  be  soon  forgotten  that  the  last  United  States 
Senate,  in  re-electing  its  Chaplain^  made  a  plain  case  of 
settling  the  choice  by  political  considerations  only,  as  "  the 
published  proceedings"  of  that  body  bear  witness. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  object  of  this  communication  is 
not  to  denounce  Chaplains  nor  the  usage  of  Congress  in 
employing  them ;  far  from  it ;  but  it  is  to  propose  a  safe 
remedy  for  the  evil  which  Congress  itself  has  created  by 
thro"vving  open  the  chaplaincy  in  such  a  manner  as  to  in- 
vite competition.  "Who  will  doubt  that  there  is  at  this 
moment  less  than  a  hundred  candidates  for  this  office,  liv- 
ing in  different  parts  of  this  Union,  some  of  whom  are 
making  remote  and  feeble,  and  others  direct  and  personal 
efforts  to  pass  this  Session  of  Congress  in  Washington  as 
Chaplains  ? 

The  remedy  is  this:  Let  Congress  throw  around  this 
sacred  office,  so  to  speak,  a  complete  protection  from  all 
political  manoeuvrings  and  competitorship,  by  becoming 
the  only  source  of  solicitation  in  this  matter.  Let  Con- 
gress, like  a  church  or  congregation,  instead  of  being  call- 
ed upon,  give  the  call.  Let  Congress  invite  the  regular 
pastors  in  Washington,  commencing  with  the  senior  pastor 
of  the  city,  to  sei*ve  as  Chaplain  for  one  week,  to  preach  on 
the  Sabbath  and  open  the  Session  with  prayer  every  morn- 
ing, and  attend  to  all  the  other  duties,  such  ^s  visiting  th« 
sick,  burying  the  dead,  &c.,  throughout  that  week ;  then 
let  the  next  senior  in  order  follow,  and  so  on.  Then,  if  it 
were  to  occur  that  any  long  Session  should  hold  more 
weeks  than  there  are  settled  ministers  in  the  city  of  Wash- 
ington, let  the  call  be  extended  on  the  same  rule  to  George- 
town.     In  doing  this  Congress  could  never  have  a  Session 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      33 

which  would  require  that  a  call  should  he  extended  out  of 
the  District  of  Columhia ;  and  let  the  compensation  re- 
main as  heretofore,  only  divided  into  weekly  portions,  to 
he  paid  to  the  Chaplains  as  they  serv^e.  Nor  could  such 
small  compensation  as  each  minister  might  receive  hardly 
be  placed  in  more  deserving  hands ;  for  should  the  salaries 
which  the  regular  pastors  of  this  city  are  now  receiving  be 
aggregated,  it  would  at  once  raise  the  inquiry,  How  do 
these  men  live  ?  We  will  answer  that  question  for  some  of 
them  in  advance  :  they  live  on  their  own  means ;  while 
they  work  like  missionaries  to  build  their  church  edifices 
and  raise  their  congregations. 

As  to  the  piety  and  talent  which  might  be  desired  in  a 
Chaplain,  it  can  hardly  be  out  of  place  for  a  layman  here 
to  state  that  Congress  will  run  no  greater  risk  in  calling 
Chaplains  from  the  District  of  Columbia  than  it  now  does 
in  receiving  them  from  the  scrambling  competitors  who 
come  annually  soliciting  the  office. 

The  churches  of  this  city  and  District  are  favored  with 
useful  pastors,  who  enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  people 
among  whom  they  live,  whose  irreproachable  and  blameless 
lives  entitle  them  to  the  respect  they  receive ;  some  of 
whom  may  justly  be  regarded  as  eminent  for  talents  and 
piety,  and  who  would  not  be  likely  to  lose  the  deep-toned 
feeling  of  the  truth  they  present  to  the  people  of  their 
charge  by  going  to  preach  one  sermon  in  the  year  at  the 
Capitol. 

Following  this  plan,  no  more  ministers  would  feel  at  lib- 
erty to  make  interest  with  members  of  Congress  to  secure 
for  them  the  election  of  a  Chaplain.  No  one  would  come 
from  a  distance  to  seek  in  vain  an  office  which  Congress 
no  longer  goes  out  of  the  limits  of  this  district  to  fill.     Be  • 


84  CHAPLAINS   OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

sides,  adopting  tliis  measure  would  be  returning  to  the 
usage,  as  established  by  the  fathers.  In  closing  the  memo- 
rable speech,  from  which  we  have  already  quoted,  Frank- 
lin said :  "  I  therefore  beg  leave  to  move  that  henceforth 
prayers  imploring  the  assistance  of  Heaven  and  its  bless- 
ings on  our  deliberations  be  held  in  this  assembly  every 
morning  before  we  proceed  to  business,  and  that  one  or 
more  of  the  clergy  of  this  city  be  requested  to  officiate  in 
that  service."  By  following  this  plan  the  usage  of  em- 
ploying men  of  different  religious  denominations  would  no 
longer  be  violated,  as  it  was  in  the  scramble  of  the  last 
Congress,  by  electing  two  Chaplains  of  the  same  sect. 

The  appearance  of  the  foregoing  article  on  the  morning 
that  Congress  came  together,  it  was  hoped  would  produce 
an  influence  on  the  elections  which  were  soon  to  follow.  In 
the  Senate,  as  we  have  already  remarked,  the  Chaplain 
was  so  soon  elected,  that  there  was  no  time  for  any  nejv 
thoughts  on  the  subject,  to  be  introduced  by  those  who 
might  have  desired  to  do  so.  In  the  House  the  long  strug- 
gle to  elect  a  Speaker,  kept  off  the  election  of  a  Chaplain 
for  so  many  weeks,  it  was  hardly  expected  that  when  ac- 
tion on  this  subject  was  approached,  it  would  receive  more 
than  ordinary  attention.  But  such  was  not  the  case.  The 
very  delay  occasioned  by  the  long  struggle  to  elect  a 
Speaker,  only  the  more  disposed  many  members  to  think 
favorably  of  the  plan  suggested  in  the  Intelligencer ;  for 
that  very  delay  gave  ample  opportunity,  as  will  be  seen 
hereafter,  for  a  fair  trial  not  only  of  the  foregoing  plan  of 
alternate  changes  by  the  pastors  of  the  city,  but  also  af- 
forded full  opportunity  to  the  numerous  aspirants  to  the 
office  of  a  Chaplain,  to  worry  down  and  bore  their  "  friends" 


CHAPLAINS   OF    THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  35 

to  vote  for  tliem,  to  their  hearts'  content.  The  employ- 
ment of  the  city  pastors  in  alternate  service  through 
the  week  days  only,  (for  there  was  no  preaching  in  the 
Capitol  until  after  the  choice  of  a  Speaker,)  was  intro- 
duced as  follows.  Not  many  days  subsequent  to  the  con- 
vening of  Congress,  Hon.  Mr.  Dowdell,  of  Alabama,  made 
some  pertinent  remarks  on  the  appropriate  usage  of  open- 
ing the  daily  session  by  prayer,  and  as  it  now  seemed  pro- 
bable that  some  time  might  elapse  before  the  election  of  a 
Chaplain  would  be  reached,  offered  the  following  preamble 
and  resolution : 

Whereas,  The  people  of  these  United  States,  from  their 
earliest  history  to  the  present  time,  have  been  led  by  the  hand 
of  a  kind  Providence,  and  are  indebted  for  the  countless 
blessings  of  the  past  and  present,  and  dependent  for  continued 
prosperity  in  the  future  upon  Almighty  God  ;  and  whereas, 
the  great  vital  and  conservative  element  in  our  system  is  the 
belief  of  our  people  in  the  pure  doctrines  and  divine  truths  of 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  it  eminently  becomes  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  a  people  so  highh'-  favored  to  acknowledge  in 
the  most  public  manner  their  reverence  for  God  ;  therefore, 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  daily  sessions  of  this  body  be  opened 
with  prayer. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  this  city 
are  hereby  requested  to  attend  and  alternately  perform  this 
solemn  duty. 

The  resolution  being  adopted,  an  invitation  was  ex- 
tended to  one  of  the  pastors  of  the  city,  every  morning 
thereafter,  who  performed  with  edification  and  acceptance, 
the  service  desired,  until  his  services  were  superseded. 

When  the  election  of  a  Chaplain  was  reached  (almost 
three  months  after  the  convening  of  Congress,)  in  the  regu- 
lar order  of  business,  it  was  entered  upon  with  a  great 
deal  of  spirit.  Several  of  the  ablest  members  took  part  in 
the  debates,  which  grew  out  of  the  occasion.  "We  shall 
make  several  extracts  from  their  speeches : 


36      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

Mr.  MiLLsox — I  rise  to  a  question  of  order.  We  fall  into 
confusion  whenever  we  attempt  to  depart  from  the  regular  or- 
der of  business.  I  desire  to  know  what  is  the  next  business 
in  order. 

The  Speaker — The  election  of  a  Chaplain,  under  the  order 
of  the  House. 

Mr.  MiLLsoN — I  call  for  the  regular  order  of  business. 

CHAPLAIN    TO    THE    HOUSE. 

Mr.  Jones,  of  Tennessee — When  the  House,  some  days  ago, 
determined  to  proceed  to  the  election  of  a  Chaplain,  I  put  in 
nomination  the  name  of  Elder  Robert  C.  Leichman,  of  Prince 
William  County,  Virginia.  The  nomination  was  made  with- 
out his  knowledge,  and  of  course  without  his  consent.  He  is 
one  of  those  who  believe  that  preference  should  be  given  to  no 
denomination  of  Christians 

When  Mr.  Jones  first  placed  this  gentleman's  name  od 
the  list  of  candidates  for  election,  he  said :  "  He  is  a  hard- 
shell Baptist  in  religion,  and  a  democrat  in  politics." 

Mr.  Stanton — Is  this  debate  in  order  ?  If  a  speech  be 
made  in  favor  of  one  candidate,  it  can  be  made  in  favor  or 
against  any  other. 

Mr.  Jones — I  am  going  to  withdraw  the  nomination. 

Mr.  Stanton — Then  I  make  no  objection. 

Mr.  Jones — I  merely  wish  to  say,  in  justice  to  the  gentle- 
man to  whom  I  have  referred,  that  I  put  his  name  in  nomina- 
tion without  his  knowledge  or  consent.  He  is  a  member  of 
that  branch  of  the  Christian  Church  who  are  opposed  to  all 
connection  between  State  and  Church.  They  are  opposed  to 
the  employment  of  Chaplains  by  this  Government ;  and  he 
would  not,  in  my  opinion,  accept  the  office  even  if  he  were 
unanimously  elected.  Therefore,  I  withdraw  his  name  from 
the  nomination. 

Mr.  Flagler — I  desire  to  ask  if  it  would  be  in  order  to 
move  an  indefinite  postponement  of  this  election  ? 

The  Speaker — The  Chair  thinks  it  would. 

Mr.  Flagler — I  make  the  motion  for  the  reason  that  I  pre- 
fer the  existing  arrangement,  by  which  the  clergymen  of  this 
city  and  Georgetown  officiate  alternately  at  the  opening  of  our 
sessions.  Therefore,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  rid  of  this 
subject,  I  make  the  motion. 

Mr.  Benson — I  am  requested  by  my  colleague,  (Mr.  Knowl- 
ton,)  who  is  now  absent,  to  state  that  he  put  in  nomination 


CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  37 

the  name  of  Rev.  Mr.  Conway  without  that  gentleman's 
knowledge  or  consent,  and  desires  me  to  withdraw  it. 

Mr.  Jones — I  suppose,  sir,  that,  if  this  motion  to  postpone 
indefinitely  is  agreed  to,  then  the  same  order  some  time  since 
adopted,  on  the  motion  of  the  gentleman  from  Alabama,  (Mr. 
Dowdell,)  will  be  in  force. 

The  Speaker — It  will. 

Mr.  Jones — Then  it  will  be  at  the  pleasure  of  the  ministers 
of  the  Gospel  of  the  District  to  make  an  arrangement  among 
themselves  to  attend  here  as  suits  their  convenience.  I  hope, 
therefore,  that  this  motion  will  be  adopted,  and  the  election 
be  indefinitely  postponed. 

Mr.  Florence — Upon  the  motion  to  postpone  I  demand  the 
yeas  and  nays. 

The  yeas  and  nays  were  ordered. 

Mr.  Sandidge — Having  paired  ofi*  with  a  gentleman  from 
Ohio,  I  shall  not  be  at  liberty  to  vote  upon  this  question,  but 
I  wish  to  say  one  word  ^s  to  what  I  would  like  to  see  done 
by  this  House  in  reference  to  this  matter.  I  am  perfectly 
satisfied  .with  the  present  arrangement,  and  would  like  to  see 
this  House  go  on  under  the  rule  already  adopted.  At  the 
opening  of  every  session  of  Congress,  the  ministers,  not  only 
of  this  city,  but  of  the  surrounding  country,  come  here,  either 
in  person,  or  through  their  agents,  and  log-roll  to  obtain  the 
position  of  Chaplain.  I  think  it  high  time  that  this  system 
should  be  abolished.  If  it  is  an  oflSce  to  be  conferred,  I  think 
it  should  be  conferred  alike  upon  all  the  ministers  of  this 
city,  and  they  should  be  invited  to  appear  here  and  ofiiciate 
alternately,  according  to  arrangement  among  themselves,  as 
Chaplain  of  this  House,  and  they  should  all  be  paid  what  is 
now  paid  to  one.  I  hope  this  matter  will  be  postponed,  and 
that  we  shall  go  on  under  the  existing  arrangement. 

Mr.  Dowdell — Did  I  understand  the  Chair  to  decide  that 
the  resolutions  which  were  introduced  by  me  and  adopted,  in 
relation  to  this  matter,  previous  to  the  organization  of  the 
House,  will  be  the  standing  order  if  this  motion  prevails  ? 

The  Speaker — The  Chair  understands  that  the  resolution 
referred  to  is  a  subsisting  order,  and  has  been  acted  upon  up 
to  this  time. 

Mr.  Dowdell — I  shall  then  vote  for  the  pending  motion  to 
postpone  indefinitely. 

In  reply  to  Hon.  Mr.  McMullin,  of  Va.,  who  desired  to 
know  how  these  alternating  weekly  Chaplains  were  to  be 
paid,  if  paid  at  all — 


38  CHAPLAINS   OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

Mr.  Dowdell  said  :  There  is  nothing  suggested  in  the  reso- 
lution about  compensation.  As  far  as  I  am  concerned,  I  left 
that  out  intentionally  ;  in  order  that  we  might  have  prayers 
without  pay  out  of  the  Federal  Treasury  ;  and  until  the  preach- 
ers ask  for  pay  I  suppose  that  question  will  not  be  before  the 
House. 

I  have  myself  conversed  with  some  of  the  ministers  in  this 
city  on  the  subject,  and  I  understand  that  the}'  did  not  look  for 
or  expect  a  salary.  They  were  willing  to  comply  with  the  re- 
quest of  this  body,  and  open  its  sessions  with  prayer  without 
pay,  at  least  out  of  the  Federal  Treasury.  If  contributions 
were  olfered  voluntarily  by  members,  well  and  good.  They 
doubtless  would  be  thankfully  received  ;  and  surely  "  the  la- 
borer is  worthy  of  his  hire."  By  adopting  this  motion,  Mr. 
Speaker,  and  thereby  continuing  in  operation  the  resolutions 
which  I  introduced  before  the  organization  of  the  House,  we 
get  all  the  benefits  claimed  for  the  chaplaincj^ — continue  in 
spirit  the  customs  of  our  fathers,  and  avoid  the  objections  urged 
a  ainst  the  system.  Under  these  resolutions  no  money  will  be 
taken  out  of  the  Treasury,  and  not  the  slightest  discrimination 
will  be  made  between  the  different  denominations  of  Christians 
in  our  country.  In  rotation  a  representative  of  each  branch  of 
the  Christian  Church  will  be  called  upon  and  invited  to  per- 
form this  dut}^,  and  I  am  persuaded  they  will  cheerfully  com- 
ply. Our  deliberations  will  thus  be  opened  with  prayer,  as 
they  should  be.  and  I  imagine  there  will  be  found  none  to  ob- 
ject. Those  who  attend  should  be  entitled  to  the  privileges 
of  the  floor,  and  will  be.  They  can  mingle  with  us,  and  I  ap- 
prehend we  shall  lose  nothing,  but  gain  much,  by  social  inter- 
course daily  with  humble,  pure,  and  holy  men.  The  gentleman 
from  Virginia  [Mr.  McMullin]  will  therefore  understand  that, 
so  far  as  I  intended,  my  resolutions  will  take  nothing  out  of 
the  Treasury.  As  the  Chair  has  stated  that  they  will  be  the 
subsisting  order  of  the  House,  if  the  pending  motion  to  post- 
pone prevails,  I  consider  it  unnecessary  to  oHer  them  again,  as 
I  had  contemplated  doing  a  few  days  since. 

Hon.  Mr.  Etlieridge,  of  Tennessee,  who  presented  the 

memorial,  a  portion  of  which  may  be  seen  on  the  19th  and 

20th  pages,  said : 

Mr.  Speaker — As  the  House  has  indulged  me,  somewhat 
out  of  order,  in  permitting  the  memorial  to  be  read,  which  pre- 
sents the  views  of  that  respectable  portion  of  my  constituents 
who  have  signed  it,  it  might,  perhaps,  be  improper  for  me  to 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      39 

detain  the  House  a  moment  longer  with  any  remarks  of  mine. 
However,  I  may  say,  that  I  will  be  satisfied  if  the  proposition 
of  the  gentleman  from  Alabama  [Mr.  Dowdelll  prevails,  re- 
questing the  clergymen  of  this  city  to  open  the  proceedings  of 
the  House  with  prayer  during  the  present  session  of  Congress. 
The  object  which  we  would  accomplish  by  the  election  of 
Chaplain  will  then  have  been  attained.  I  shall,  myself,  vote 
for  the  motion  to  postpone,  because,  by  postponing  this  elec- 
tion, and  inviting  the  clergy  of  the  city  to  attend  every  morn- 
ing and  open  the  session  with  prayer,  if  they  think  proper,  you 
will  have  respected  the  sentiment  of  that  portion  of  the  people 
who  think  that  our  daily  proceedings  should  begin  with  an  ap- 
peal to  Almighty  God — a  labor  of  love  which  any  Christian 
minister  would  willingly  perform — while,  at  the  same  time,  you 
will  have  removed  the  objections  to  creating  the  office  of  Chap- 
Iain,  and  thereby  making  it  a  political  ofiice,  which  my  consti- 
tuents have  so  strongly  urged  in  their  memorial.  I  will  re- 
mark again,  that  the  petitioners  are  a  part  of  a  highly  respecta- 
ble denomination  of  Christians,  and  are  earnest  and  sincere  in 
the  objections  which  they  urge  with  so  much  apparent  force. 
I  would  vote  for  no  proposition  which  would  cause  us  to  dis- 
pense entirely  with  the  voluntary  offices  of  a  Christian  minis- 
ter ;  but  as  we  will  have  their  voluntary  prayers  and  ministra- 
tions whenever  required  if  this  election  be  postponed,  I  hope 
the  motion  to  that  effect  will  be  agreed  to. 

For  myself,  I  confess  that  I  have  witnessed  electioneering 
efforts  connected  with  the  chaplaincy  of  the  House  which  I 
think  were  not  at  all  compatible  with  the  ministerial  character. 
These  scenes  will  be  obviated  if  the  office  is  abolished,  and  our 
daily  proceedings  shall  have  been  left  to  be  opened  by  an  ap- 
peal to  Heaven  from  such  ministers  as  may  do  so  without  any 
pecuniary  incentive. 

Other  business  taldng  precedence,  the  chaplaincy  was 
laid  aside  until  the  jiext  day.  A  majority  not  having 
agreed  to  abide  under  the  operation  of  Mr.  Dowdell's  reso- 
lution, but  to  go  into  the  election  of  Chaplain,  the  Clerk 
read  over  the  names  of  the  nominees,  which  had  been  an- 
nounced by  the  several  members  on  a  previous  occasion. 
After  many  of  these  names  had  been  withdrawn  by  the 
members  who  had  presented  them  without  authority,  Mr. 
Granger,  of  N.  Y.,  said : 


40  CHAPLAINS   OF    THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

1  would  inquire  if  the  name  of  Mr.  Waldo  was  read  as  one 
of  the  nominees  ? 

The  Speaker — It  was. 

Mr.  Granger — I  wish  to  say  that  he  is  old,  but  every  way 
competent  for  the  service.  He  has  been  for  seventy  years  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  without  spot  or 
blemish,  and  "  still  lives,"  able  and  willing  to  serve  his  coun- 
try in  his  profession. 

The  Speaker  then  appointed  as  tellers  Messrs.  Ritchie, 
Woodruff,  Reade  and  English. 

Mr.  Letcher — Is  it  in  order  to  move  to  postpone  this  mat- 
ter indefinitely  ? 

The  Speaker — It  is  not,  as  the  House  has  already  refused  to 
do  so. 

Mr.  Letcher — Is  it  in  order  to  move  to  postpone  it  for  a 
week  ? 

The  Speaker — It  is  in  order  to  move  to  postpone  to  a  day 
certain. 

Mr.  Letcher — Then  I  move  to  postpone  it  until  the  4th  of 
March,  1857. 

The  Speaker — That  is  equivalent  to  an  indefinite  postpone- 
ment. 

Mr.  Letcher — Well,  then,  until  the  3d  of  March,  1857;  and 
I  desire  to  say  in  this  connection,  that  this  whole  affiiir  seems 
manifestly  to  be  a  farce,  in  the  estimation  of  members. 

Mr.  II.  Marshall — Upon  the  motion  of  the  gentleman  from 
Virginia,  I  wish  to  submit  this  observation,  that  however  farci- 
cal this  thing  may  appear  to  him,  it  seems  to  me  to  be  a  very 
solemn  sort  of  proceeding.  I  have  no  doubt,  Mr.  Speaker,  that 
we  are  now  in  the  performance  of  a  duty  which  good  morals 
and  the  sense  of  the  country  will  sustain  us  in.  I  supposed, 
after  we  had  refused  to  postpone  indefinitely,  and  the  House 
had  refused  to  reconsider  that  vote,  that  we  should  have  gone 
on  to  an  election  ;  but  the  motion  now  made  by  the  gentle- 
man from  Virginia,  to  postpone  to  a  day  certain — which  is  the 
day  before  the  adjournment  of  this  Ccfngress  under  the  Con- 
stitution— shows  that  we  are  to  have  a  contest  upon  this  sub- 
ject, as  long  as  the  rules  of  order  will  permit  the  gentleman 
to  make  a  contest.  Now,  in  order  that  we  may  accelerate  and 
expedite  the  business  of  the  House,  I  move  to  lay  the  motion 
to  postpone  to  a  day  certain  upon  the  table. 

;Mr.  Letcher — Will  the  gentleman  from  Kentucky  withdraw 
that  motion  for  a  moment  ? 

Mr.  Marshall — No,  sir. 

Mr.  Letcher — I  merely  wish  to  say  a  word  in  reply. 

Mr.  Marshall — I  can  imagine  what  the  gentleman  will  say. 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      41 

Mr.  Letcher — No,  sir,  you  cannot  imagine  what  I  want  to 

say. 

Mr.  Marshall — Well,  I  cannot  withdraw  the  motion. 

Mr.  Letcher — I  wish  to  allude  to  facts  showing  the  opera- 
tion of  the  practice  in  Virginia,  where  no  Chaplain  is  elected 
at  all  ;  but.  in  consideration  of  the  gravity  of  my  friend  from 
Kentucky,  I  will  not  press  it. 

Mr.  Marshall — I  will  withdraw  the  motion. 

Mr.  Letcher — It  has  never  been  the  custom  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  the  State  in  which  I  reside  to  elect  a  Chaplain  to  open 
its  proceedings  with  prayer.  It  has  been  the  custom  of  the 
Legislature  of  that  State,  for  a  series  of  years,  to  invite  the 
ministers  of  the  city  of  Richmond,  to  come  in  each  morning 
and  open  the  sessions  with  prayer.  That  system  has  been 
found  to  work  well,  and  has  given  satisfaction.  Now,  sir,  I 
understand,  so  far  as  the  ministers  of  the  city  of  Washington 
are  concerned,  that  they  do  not  desire  to  be  elected  to  the 
chaplaincy  ;  that  they  are  perfectly  willing  to  come  here  and 
officiate,  as  the  ministers  of  the  State  of  Virginia  do  at  Rich- 
mond. I  think  if  that  course  is  pursued  it  will  be  much  more 
likely  to  give  satisfaction  to  the  members  of  this  House,  com- 
posed as  they  are  of  ail  shades  of  religious  cast,  and  some  hav- 
ing no  religion  at  all.     [Laughter.] 

Now,  sir,  I  do  not  desire  to  see  this  thing  confined  to  any 
one,  where  it  can  be  effected  in  this  way,  which  seems  to  me 
more  acceptable,  and  which  we  have  tried  for  a  period  of  some 
months  to  general  satisfaction,  and  I  am  sure  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  my  friend  from  Kentucky.  We  have  had  our  sessions 
opened  here  with  prayer  alternately  by  the  ministers  of  the 
various  religious  denominations  of  this  city.  Well,  now,  if 
that  system  can  be  continued,  why  should  we  undertake  to 
place  here  a  minister  of  any  particular  religious  denomination 
as  the  Chaplain  of  this  House  ? 

Then,  besides,  Mr.  Speaker,  when  I  spoke  of  this  thing  as 
being  farcical,  E  alluded  to  the  fact,  that  just  preceding  this 
election  there  seemed  to  be  none  of  that  solemnity  connected 
with  it  which  my  friend  from  Kentucky  has  referred  to.  And 
so  far  as  the  solemnity  spoken  of  is  concerned,  I  think  my 
friend,  from  the  manner  in  which  he  addressed  the  House, 
seemed  to  be  about  as  much  "put  to"  to  conceal  that  it  was 
farcical,  as  I  am  to  show  that  it  is. 

Mr.  Smith,  of  Virginia— I  do  not  rise  for  the  purpose  of 
making  any  speech  on  this  question,  but  I  desire  simply  to 
suggest  to  the  members  of  the  House,  whether  it  would  not  be 
good  policy  just  to  try  the  experiment  of  calling  on  the 
preachers  of  this  city  to  officiate  alternately  at  that  desk  ?    I 


42  CHAPLAINS    OF   THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

ask  tlie  House,  with  confidence,  whether  the  experiment,  so 
far  as  we  have  tried  it,  has  not  worl^d  well  ?  And  if  it  has, 
why  should  there  be  any  objection  to  try  it  during  this  ses- 
sion ?  If  it  be  found  by  further  experience  that  plan  does  not 
answer  the  purpose  designed,  the  House  can  at  any  moment, 
whenever  it  is  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  it  is  neces- 
sary to  elect  a  Chaplain,  proceed  to  do  so ;  there  can  be  no 
difficulty  in  carrying  out  that  necessity.  The  proposition  to 
have  ministers  of  the  various  religious  denominations  of  this 
city  ofiiciate  alternately,  is  evidently  one  entitled  to  favorable 
consideration.  That  there  should  be  an  unbecoming  solicita- 
tion on  the  part  of  those  who  undertake  to  teach  the  law  and 
the  prophets,  for  payment  from  this  House,  is,  I  think,  calcu- 
lated to  have  a  most  painful  impression  ;  but  I  think  that  the 
idea  will  be  effectually  repelled  by  the  course  proposed,  of 
applying  to  the  clergymen  of  this  city  to  officiate  alternately. 
But  that  is  not  all ;  I  think  I  can  say,  with  absolute  confi- 
dence, that  the  ministers  of  this  city  will  cheerfully  perform 
this  duty,  and  that  they  will  refuse  to  allow  themselves  to  be 
placed  before  this  House  at  the  closing  scenes  of  the  session 
for  allowance  for  their  services.  Such  an  insinuation  is  a  gross 
reflection  upon  those  who  undertake  to  teach  us. 

My  colleague  [Mr.  Letcher]  has  adverted  to  the  practice  in 
the  State  of  Virginia.  That  practice  has  continued  for  years, 
and  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  say  that  not  the  first  intimation 
has  ever  been  made  of  a  desire  on  their  part  to  receive  the 
slightest  compensation  for  such  services  as  they  render.  I 
beg  the  House — whatever  may  have  been  the  past  experience 
on  this  subject,  whatever  may  be  the  particular  views  of  mem- 
bers in  reference  to  taking  chance  to  elect  a  friend  to  the 
office  of  Chaplain — to  consider  whether  it  is  not  eminently 
proper  that  we  should  continue  the  system  for  the  rest  of  the 
session,  so  as  to  test  the  utility  and  wisdom  of  the  system 
which  we  have  acted  on  ever  since  we  assembled  here  in  the 
month  of  December  ? 

Mr.  MiLLsoN.  It  is  perhaps  fortunate  that  the  American 
people  are  not  accustomed  to  judge  of  dangers  to  the  Union 
from  the  amount  of  excitement  in  the  Halls  of  Congress.  If 
they  were,  sir,  they  might  be  led  to  suppose  that  all  our  insti- 
tutions were  now  in  imminent  danger ;  for  I  confess  I  have 
seldom  seen  so  much  excitement  on  this  floor  as  seems  to  have 
been  produced  by  the  attempt  to  elect  an  humble  Chaplain. 
Sir,  this  usage  of  electing  a  Chaplain  is  coeval  with  our  Gov- 
ernment ;  it  was  even  anterior  to  our  Constitution.  It  has 
been  adopted  by  every  successive  Congress  from  the  earliest 
to  the  present  day ;  and  I  will  not  take  the  responsibility  of 
being  the  first  to  depart  from  it. 


CHAPLAINS   OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  43 

My  colleague  [Mr.  Letcher]  has  adverted  to  the  usage  of  the 
Virginia  Legislature  ;  but  why  should  we  forget  or  disregard 
our  own  usages  ?  The  practice  of  our  own  body  is  a  more  pro- 
per subject  of  consideration  in  determining  what  we  ought  to 
do.  Though  1  am  sometimes  charged,  Mr.  Speaker, — I  beg 
pardon  for  appearing  egotistical, — with  being,  perhaps,  the 
strictest  constructionist  in  Congress,  yet,  sir,  I  confess  that  it 
never  once  occurred  to  my  mind  that  the  election  of  a  Chaplain 
was  in  any  respect  a  violation  of  our  sacred  Constitution.  How 
far  are  these  objections  to  be  carried  ?  Gentlemen  object  to 
what  they  call  the  Union  of  Church  and  State.  Who,  sir, 
would  more  object  to  it  than  myself?  But  let  them  be  con- 
sistent in  their  objections.  If  it  should  please  God  to  take 
from  the  world  one  of  the  members  of  this  body,  I  suppose 
those  gentlemen  who  are  objecting  to  the  appointment  of  a 
Chaplain,  on  the  ground  that  it  is  to  that  extent  a  union  of 
Church  and  State,  will  insist  that  the  body  of  our  deceased 
brother  should  be  interred  without  an}^  religious  services,  be- 
cause it  is  not  competent  to  connect  the  public  Treasury  with 
the  administration  in  any  sort  of  religious  offices.  And,  to  be 
still  further  consistent,  they  should  at  once  introduce  a  resolu- 
tion into  this  House,  requiring  the  Librarian  of  Congress  to 
expose  to  public  auction  all  books  now  in  the  library  relating 
in  any  degree  to  religion — the  various  editions  of  the  Bible 
among  them — on  the  ground  that  it  was  an  abuse  of  our  au- 
thority to  expend  the  money  of  the  people  in  the  purchase  of 
books  which  were  in  any  manner  connected  with  religion. 
Sir,  I  hope  that  this  contest,  after  so  many  expressions  of  the 
will  of  the  majority  of  this  House,  will  at  length  be  stopped. 
Have  we  no  respect  for  the  ancient  usages  of  the  country  ? 
Why  question  the  need,  why  ask  the  necessity,  of  having  a 
Chaplain  ?  I  think  I  can  perceive  an  obvious  propriety  in  it, 
even  if  there  were  not  a  necessity. 

If  this  matter  has  been  made  a  farce,  as  gentlemen  say,  by 
whom  has  it  been  made  so  ?  There  are  some  of  us,  I  trust, 
who  are  not  disposed  to  connect  farcical  associations  with  the 
administration  of  the  duties  of  the  chaplaincy. 

Mr.  Crawford,  (interrupting.)  I  desire  to  ask  the  gentle- 
man from  Virginia,  whether  there  is  not  a  resolution  now  in 
force  in  this  House  inviting  the  resident  clergy  of  the  city  to 
appear  here  daily  and  open  our  sessions  with  pi-aj'er  ?  And, 
in  obedience  to  that  resolution,  have  not  the  clergy  of  the  city 
regularly  appeared  in  this  Hall  and  opened  our  sessions  with 
prayer  during  the  present  session  ? 

1  desire  to  say  further,  that  I  have  uniformly  voted  against 
all  motions  to  elect  a  Chaplain,  not  intending  thereby  to  com- 


44  CHAPLAINS   OF    THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

mit  myself  in  opposition  to  the  practice  of  opening  the  sessions 
of  the  House  with  prayer,  but  in  opposition  to  the  election  of 
a  regular  Chaplain  to  officiate  for  us,  when  our  sessions  would 
otherwise  be  opened  as  they  have  thus  far  been.  It  is  with 
that  view,  with  that  feeling,  that  I  have  thus  voted.  Now, 
sir,  I  am  gratified  to  have  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel  appear 
here  every  morning  and  make  prayer.  Under  the  resolution 
of  the  gentleman  from  Alabama,  sitting  immediately  before  me, 
[Mr.  Dowdell,!  the  clergy  of  the  city  have  appeared  regularly 
since  the  commencement  of  the  session,  and,  as  I  understand, 
will  continue  to  appear  and  open  our  sessions  if  a  regular  Chap- 
lain is  not  elected.  I  prefer  this  arrangement,  and  therefore 
have  voted  against  regular  elections.  I  ask  the  gentleman 
from  Virginia,  whether,  if  we  do  not  go  into  a  regular  election, 
we  shall  not  continue  to  have  praj'ers  every  morning  as  we 
have  had  heretofore  ? 

It  is  not  my  purpose,  in  voting  as  I  have  done  upon  this 
question,  to  be  understood  as  being  opposed  to  the  long-es- 
tabHshed  custom  of  opening  our  deliberations  each  day  with 
prayer,  but  to  manifest,  in  the  most  forcible  manner,  my  utter 
dislike  to  the  system  of  electioneering  which  seems  to  prevail 
in  regard  to  the  election  of  a  Chaplain.  I  am  in  favor  of  the 
system  of  alternating,  provided  for  in  the  rule  which  was 
adopted  in  the  early  part  of  the  session,  and  which  has  proved 
to  work  so  well  up  to  the  present  time.  I  see  no  reason  to 
change  it ;  for  in  that  course  we  have  each  morning  the  Divine 
blessing  invoked,  and  at  the  same  time  avoid  the  objections 
raised  by  so  many  good  and  worthy  men,  whose  opinions  I 
respect.  I  felt  that  the  remarks  of  the  honorable  gentleman 
from  Virginia  [Mr.  Millson]  might  make  the  impression  that 
those  of  us  who  had  voted  for  the  postponement  were  opposed 
to  the  opening  of  each  session  of  this  House  with  prayer,  and 
thought  it  due  to  many  gentlemen  voting  with  me,  as  well  as 
to  myself,  to  set  this  matter  right.  I  thank  my  friend  from 
Virginia  for  the  opportunity  which  he  has  so  kindly  given  me 
of  being  heard  upon  the  subject. 

Mr.  Millson — The  gentleman  from  Georgia  can  answer  the 
question  as  well  as  I  can.  He  knows  a  resolution  has  been 
adopted  inviting  the  gratuitous  services  of  ministers  of  the 
Gospel  here.  But,  sir,  I  am  noticing  the  objections  that  have 
been  made  to  the  system  ;  I  am  answering  objections  urged 
by  my  colleague  [Mr.  Letcher]  and  others,  in  reference  to  the 
merits  of  the  system  at  large  ;  but  I  may  say  to  the  gentleman 
from  Georgia,  [Mr.  Crawford,]  that  some  of  the  objections 
that  have  been  made  will  apply  as  well  to  the  resolution  that 
has  been  adopted  as  to  the  election  of  a  permanent  Chaplain. 


CHAPLAINS   OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  45 

But,  sir,  I  should  defeat  my  own  object,  which  is  to  bring 
this  matter  to  a  speedy  close,  if  I  were  to  go  into  an  extended 
discussion  of  this  question.  I  do  not  desire  to  do  that ;  I  rose 
merely  to  submit  a  very  few  observations.  At  the  time  the 
gentleman  from  Georgia  interrupted  me  I  was  making  some 
remarks  in  reply  to  my  colleagues,  [Messrs.  Letcher  and 
Smith,]  who  wish  to  know  why  this  farce  should  continue.  I 
have  said  that  this  was  a  usage  that  I  would  not  be  among  the 
first  to  abolish.  I  believe  it  is  usage  that  has  prevailed 
throughout  Christendom,  and  I  will  not  consent  to  go  now  in- 
to a  discussion  as  to  any  necessity  for  it.  I,  sir,  have  a  venera- 
tion for  ancient  usages,  when  they  are  not  wrong  in  them- 
selves. 

Mr.  Letcher — I  desire  to  inquire  of  my  colleague  whether 
he  says  I  stated  that  I  was  opposed  to  having  our  sessions 
opened  with  prayer  ? 

Mr.  MiLLsoN. — I  did  not  say  so. 

Mr.  Letcher.  I  so  understood  my  colleague.  I  will  state 
exactly  what  my  position  is  in  this  matter.  We  have  had 
prayers  here,  I  believe,  every  morning  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  session;  and  I  should  prefer  to  have  them  alternately 
by  ministers  of  different  denominations,  than  to  have  them 
every  morning  by  a  minister  of  any  one  denomination.  Gen- 
tlemen have  these  two  propositions  before  them,  between 
which  to  choose :  to  have  alternately  the  services  of  the  clergy 
of  the  city,  of  different  denominations,  or  to  have  the  services 
of  one  man  regularly  elected  as  Chaplain.  For  myself,  I  pre- 
fer the  former. 

Mr.  MiLLsoN— I  imputed  no  such  wish  to  my  colleague  as 
he  has  indicated.  What  I  meant  to  say  was,  that  the  argu- 
ment of  my  colleague,  [Mr.  Letcher,]  and  of  my  colleague  on 
my  right,  [Mr.  Smith,]  would  apply  as  well  to  the  gratuitous 
services  of  clergymen,  such  as  we  have  had  under  the  resolu- 
tion some  time  ago  adopted  by  the  House,  as  to  a  permanent 
chaplaincy. 

But,  sir,  I  was  saying,  why  should  we  discuss  the  necessity 
of  this  thing  ?  It  may  be  that  the  old  shade  tree  which  has 
stood  for  centuries  is  not  of  great  intrinsic  value,  but  where  is 
the  man  that  would  say,  "  Cut  it  down  ?"  True,  it  may  be  of 
questionable  utility,  but  it  is  associated  with  all  the  recollec- 
tions of  the  homestead,  and  who  would  give  it  over  to  the 
woodman's  axe  ?  It  may  be,  that  there  was  no  original  neces- 
sity that  the  first  annual  message  sent  by  the  President  to  the 
first  Congress  should  contain  an  acknowledgment  of  our  de- 
pendence upon  a  Supreme  Power,  but  the  President  where  is 
who  would  now  depart  from  this  custom  ? 


46 


CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 


Mr.  Smith,  of  Virginia,  (interrupting.) — My  colleague  as- 
cribed to  me  a  disposition  not  to  have  prayers  at  the  opening 
of  our  daily  sessions.  Now,  sir,  every  portion  of  my  remarks 
directly  assumed  that  we  were  to  have  them  ;  but,  sir,  I  pre- 
fer to  continue  the  voluntary  system,  rather  than  to  adopt  the 
hireling  system. 

Mr.  MiLLsoN — Well,  sir,  I  do  not  care  to  be  making  experi- 
ments always,  and  in  all  matters  I  think  there  are  some  things 
so  sacred  by  usage,  and  by  the  approbation  of  the  whole  peo- 
ple, as  to  be  entitled  to  exemption  from  these  rash  experi- 
ments. 

The  gentleman  wants  the  experiment  tried  as  to  the  com- 
parative eflScacy  of  mercenary  prayers,  as  he  may  please  to 
consider  them,  and  of  gratuitous  or  voluntary  offices.  I  know, 
sir,  it  is  fashionable  to  sneer  at  the  clerical  profession,  because 
of  their  willingness — because,  if  you  please,  of  their  desire — to 
receive  a  decent  or  even  comfortable  provision ;  and  they 
rarely  do  more  than  this.  Why,  Mr.  Speaker,  they  are  men  ; 
they  have  the  wants  of  other  men,  and  they  must  be  compen- 
sated for  their  services  as  other  men  are.  If  you  wish  them 
to  have  leisure  to  devote  themselves  to  the  acquisition  of 
theological  information,  they  must  depend  upon  the  contribu- 
tions of  others  for  their  support ;  and  I  think  it  were  not  in 
good  taste  to  sneer  at  them  because  of  their  willingness  to  re- 
ceive a  compensation  which  is  often  inadequate  for  the  ser- 
vices they  are  appointed  to  render. 

Mr.  Clingman — I  do  not  rise  to  debate  this  question,  but 
for  the  purpose  of  terminating  the  debate  upon  it.  I  move  the 
previous  question. 

Mr.  Florence — I  move  to  lay  the  motion  to  postpone  upon 
the  table. 

The  question  was  taken  ;  and  the  motion  to  postpone  was 
laid  on  the  table.  final   vote. 

The  House  then  proceeded  to  vote  viva  voce  a  second  time 
for  Chaplain,  with  the  following  result:  Whole  number  of 
votes  cast,  127  ;  necessary  to  a  choice,  64  j  of  which 

Kev.  Daniel  Waldo  received, 70 

Rev.  William  G.  Baldwin, 25 

Eev.  D.  T.  Doggett, 12 

Rev.  William  Moseley. 6 

Rev.  T.  H.  Stockton,  ' 5 

Rev.  Byron  Sunderland,  3 . 

Rev.  Robert  D.  Morris, 2 

Rev.  William  Patten, 2 

Rev.  Miss  Antoinette  L.  Brown,    .        .        .         .        •  1 

Hon.  Joshua  R.  Giddings, 1 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      47 

The  following  is  the  vete  in  detail : 

For  Mr.  Waldo — Messrs.  Henry  Bennett,  Benson,  Billing- 
hurst,  Bliss,  Burlingame,  John  P.  Campbell,  Lewis  D.  Camp- 
bell, Clawson,  Clingraan,  Colfax,  Cox,  Cullen,  Cumback,  Dean, 
Dick,  Dickson,  Dodd,  Dunn,  Flagler,  Florence,  Granger,  Grow, 
Robert  B.  Hal),  J.  jMorrison  Harris,  Harrison,  Holloway, 
Thomas  R.  Horton,  Howard,  Hughston,  Kelsey,  Kennett, 
Knapp,  Knox,  Kunkel.  Leiter.  Mace,  Alexander  K.  Marshall, 
Humphrey  Marshall,  Morrill,  Nichols,  Norton,  Andrew  Oliver, 
Parker,  Pearcc,  Pelton,  Pennington,  Perry,  Porter,  Purviance, 
Reade,  Ritchie,  Robbins,  Roberts,  Robison.  Sabin,  Scott,  Sher- 
man, Stanton,  Swope,  Thurston,  Trafton,  Vail,  Wade,  Wal- 
bridge,  Waldron,  Elihu  B.  Washburne,  Israel  Washbume, 
Wells,  Williams,  and  Woodruff. 

For  Mr.  Baldwin — Messrs.  Barksdale,  Hendley  S.  Bennett, 
Caskie,  Craige,  Crawford,  Davidson,  Elliott,  English,  Foster, 
Greenwood,  Jewett,  Letcher,  Lindley,  McMullin,  Smith  Miller, 
Orr,  Phelps,  Quitman,  Richardson,  Ruffin.  William  Smith, 
Stewart,  Watkins,  Winslow,  and  Daniel  B.  Wright. 

For  Mr.  Doggett — Messrs.  Aiken,  Allen,  Boyce,  DowdeU. 
Ether! dge,  Faulkner,  Thomas  L.  Harris,  Kelly,  Milson,  Morde- 
cai  Oliver,  Puryear  and  Seward. 

For  Mr.  Moseley — Messrs.  Sampson  W.  Harris,  Houston, 
Lumpkin,  Shorter,  Taylor,  and  John  V.  Wright. 

For  Mr.  Stockton — Messrs.  Bingham,  Brenton,  Comins,  and 
Watson. 

For  Mr.  Sunderland — Messrs.  Williamson,  R.  W.  Cobb, 
Stranahan,  and  Wakeman. 

For  Mr.  Morris — Messrs.  Branch  and  Cadwalader. 

For  Mr.  Patten — Messrs.  Chaffee  and  Pike. 

For  Miss  Brown — Mr.  Spinner. 

For  Mr.  Giddings — Mr.  Brooks. 

Pending  the  call  of  the  roll, 

Mr.  Florence  said:  Mr.  Speaker,  I  give  up  my  personal 
preference,  and,  that  there  may  be  an  election,  vote  for  Mr. 
Waldo. 

The  Speaker  then  declared  that  Daniel  Waldo,  having  re- 
ceived a  majority  of  the  votes  cast,  was  duly  elected  Chaplain 
of  the  House  for  the  first  session  of  the  Thirty-Fourth  Con- 
gress. 

By  tlie  foregoing  debate,  it  will  be  seen  that  most  of 

those  who  entered  into  the  discussion,  expressed  themselves 

strongly  in  favor  of  postponing  indefinitely  to  elect  another 

Chaplain,  but  to  proceed  as  they  had  done  from  the  time 


48      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT 

Mr.  Dowdell's  resolution  was  adopted,  to  employ  the  pas- 
tors of  the  churches  in  Washington,  to  alternate  weekly 
in  performing  the  various  duties  of  a  Chaplain.  The  only 
difference  between  those  who  agreed  on  this  point  related 
to  compensation.  The  opinions  of  some  inclined  to  the 
plan  suggested  in  the  "  National  Intelligencer^^  that  the 
same  compensation  be  allowed  to  one  Chaplain,  namely, 
$750  a  session,  should  be  divided  into  weekly  apportion- 
ments, and  given  to  the  clergyman  who  serves*  through 
the  week ;  while  others,  in  order  to  silence  the  objections  of 
those  who  are  opposed  to  the  employment  of  Chaplains  on 
account  of  the  "  pay"  they  receive  from  the  U.  S.  Treasury, 
are  disposed  to  give  these  weekly  Chaplains  no  compensa- 
tion except  such  as  the  members  might  be  disposed  to  make 
by  voluntary  contribution.  Although  our  opinion  of  the 
liberality  of  members  of  Congress  in  this  behalf,  would  not 
lead  us  to  doubt  that  the  officiating  ministers  might  receive 
as  much  compensation  from  voluntary  contributions,  as  if 
they  were  to  only  receive  their  dividend  of  the  $750,  yet  we 
cannot  feel  the  force  of  any  moral  benefit  which  will  arise 
from  withholding  the  amount  assigned  to  Chaplains  in 
Congress,  out  of  regard  to  the  prejudices  of  those  who  make 
objections  to  the  money  coming  from  the  public  treasury, 
while  all  the  Chaplains  in  the  Army  and  Navy  continue  to 

*  The  duties  of  a  Chaplain  mainly  consists  in  preaching  on  Sabbath  morn- 
ing in  the  Capitol — opening  the  daily  sessions  of  Congress  by  prayer — visiting 
the  members  detained  from  their  seats  by  sickness— to  attend  on  the  funeral 
solemnities  in  the  event  of  a  death  among  the  members,  and  such  other  inci- 
dental visiting  as  might  grow  out  of  daily  intercourse  with  sixty-two  Sena- 
tors and  attendants,  two  hundred  and  forty-three  members  of  the  House, 
besides  six  delegates  from  the  territories,  clerk,  door-keeper,  post-masters 
of  the  House  and  Senate,  and  a  large  number  of  employees,  all  of  whom 
are  equal  to  a  good-sized  parish. 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      49 

receive  their  pay  from  the  same  source.  It  would  be  vir- 
tually acknowledging  the  principle  to  be  wrong  on  which 
we  continue  to  practice,  except  in  the  solitary  instance  of 
not  paying  the  Chaplains  to  Congress.  It  will  do  very  lit- 
tle towards  satisfying  those  who  are  annually  memorializ- 
ing Congress  against  listening  to  "  paid  for  prayers."  It 
would  be  more  consistent  to  cease  compensating  all  Chap- 
lains in  the  government  service,  or  none. 

But  it  will  be  seen  that  Hon.  Mr.  Millson^  in  a  grave 
and  dignified  manner,  contended  for  no  deviation  from  the 
usages  of  the  fathers;  and  besides  the  argument  on  his 
reverence  for  the  antiquity  of  the  institution,  he  inquires  : 
"  Have  we  no  respect  for  the  ancient  usage  of  the  coun- 
try ?"  He  further  remarks ;  "  It  may  be  that  the  old 
shade-tree,  which  has  stood  for  centuries,  is  not  of  great 
intrinsic  value  ;  but  where  is  the  man  who  would  say,  '  Cut 
it  down  ?'  True,  it  may  be  of  questionable  utility,  but  it 
is  associated  with  all  the  recollections  of  the  homestead, 
and  who  will  give  it  over  to  the  woodman's  axe  ?"  Now, 
although  this  eloquent  reasoning  carried  the  question 
against  all  objections,  and  elected  a  Chaplain,  yet  there 
were  many  of  the  members  who  disagreed  with  Mr. 
Millson ;  but  they  voted  for  Rev.  Mr.  Waldo  more  to  get 
rid  of  a  longer  debate,  than  from  a  conviction  of  its  pro- 
priety. Things  are  not  now  as  they  were  when  our 
fathers  established  the  usage  of  inviting  "  one  or  more  of 
the  clergy  of  this  city''''  to  implore  the  assistance  of  Heaven 
on  the  deliberations  of  Congress.  Like  many  other  things, 
the  sacred  office  of  the  Chaplain  to  Congress  requires  a 
protection  thrown  around  it  adapted  to  the  "  times ;"  which, 
a  grave  senator  said,  "  are  sadly  out  of  joint."  Congress 
should  no  longer  leave  the  office  of  Chaplain  open  to  com- 


60  CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 

petition — to  "  log-rolling,"  "  wire-pulling,"  to  tlie  "  elec- 
tioneering" of  whicli  members  of  Congress  complain  that 
they  are  both  tired  and  disgusted.  Let  Mr.  Millson  and 
others  entertaining  his  views,  see  how  the  present  course 
of  things  has  run  down  the  office  of  Chaplains,  especially 
to  Congress.  It  has  gone  forth  to  the  country  that,  under 
the  present  order  of  things,  men  of  sterling  eloquence  and 
eminent  piety,  having  that  order  of  talents  which  com- 
mands respect,  such  as  has  in  times  past  graced  that  long 
list  of  divines,  [whose  names  are  placed  at  the  end  of 
this  book,]  will  never  again  be  elected  Chaplains  to  Con- 
gress. The  men  best  adapted  to  fill  the  office  will  not  be 
found  managing  and  scrambling  for  it.  Instead  of  seek- 
ing the  office,  they  are  the  very  men  who  will  be  found  at 
their  post  in  their  appropriate  calling,  until  the  office  seeks 
them.  They  are  the  men  whose  conscious  merit  and  be- 
coming modesty  will  not  suffer  them  to  enter  the  ring 
against  such  odds  as  they  might  chance  to  find  striving  for 
the  place.  Then  who  are  the  men  who  will  be  most  likely 
to  find  these  sacred  places  in  such  high  veneration  as  not 
to  allow  of  any  change,  even  though  they  may  be  of  "  ques- 
tionable utility  ?"  To  answer  this  question  we  need  refer 
no  further  back  than  the  last  session  of  Congress.  If 
criticism  on  the  last  Chaplain  elected,  could  furnish  sup- 
port to  our  position,  we  are  most  fortunately  situated ;  for 
we  could  hardly  persuade  ourselves  into  the  delicate  task 
of  attempting  to  illustrate  the  incompetency  of  any  Chap- 
lain to  fill  an  office  to  which  he  had  been  duly  elected  by 
either  branch  of  the  National  Legislature.  But  when  a 
man  has  reached  the  ninety-fourth  year  of  his  age,  it 
would  not  be  regarded  as  a  very  unjust  opinion,  were  we 
to  assume  that  his  day  for  preparing  original  discourses,  to 


CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    aENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  51 

be  delivered  with  tlie  clear  and  distinct  enunciation,  which 
is  necessary  to  convey  what  he  would  utter  to  the  hearing 
of  an  audience  seated  in  different  parts  of  the  great  hall  of 
the  Capitol,  had  gone  by.  It  was  not  with  any  expecta- 
tion that  Mr.  Waldo  would  deliver  original  discourses, 
which  he  would  prepare  for  the  occasion,  that  he  was 
elected. 

The  election  of  Chaplain  to  the  House,  coming  directly 
upon  the  heel  of  the  long,  tedious  struggle  to  elect  a 
Speaker,  and  the  spirited  manner  in  which  so  many  mem- 
bers entered  into  the  discussion,  seemed  likely  to  occupy  sev- 
eral days  more,  unless  cut  short  by  a  compromise.  After  sev- 
eral names,  (which  had  been  presented  through  ridicule) 
had  been  withdrawn,  there  seemed  to  be  a  general  dispo- 
sition to  end  the  contest  by  uniting  on  one  of  the  remain- 
ing nominees.  Mr.  Granger,  from  N.  Y.,  in  whose  district 
Mr.  Waldo  lived,  said :  "  I  hope,  sir,  the  House  will  take 
this  occasion  to  show  its  grateful  respect  for  this  venerable 
and  goodly  relic  of  the  times  that  tried  men's  souls." 
Although  Mr.  Granger  is  regarded  as  a  thorough-going 
abolitionist,  and  therefore  not  very  palatable  to  southern 
members ;  yet,  said  a  leading  member  from  a  slave  state, 
who  had  himself  brought  forward  a  candidate,  "  I'll  give 
my  vote  for  the  old  soldier."  Nothing  is  more  certain 
than  that  Mr.  Waldo's  great  age,  together  with  his  having 
been  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and,  perhaps,  the  only 
living  person  of  the  Jersey  prison-ship  memory,  and  not 
because  he  was  a  clergyman  merely^  decided  the  elec- 
tion in  his  favor.  There  is  no  question  that  many  votes 
were  given  for  him  with  no  more  expectation  of  his  being 
able  to  perform  the  active  duties  of  a  Chaplain,  than 
Preston  S.  Brooks,  of  South  Carolina,  had  in  voting  each 


52      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

time  for  Joshita  R.  Giddings,  or  thaii  Hon.  Mr.  Spinner, 
in  voting  for  Rev.  Miss  Antoinette  Brown.  As  a  proof 
that  it  has  not  been  our  object,  in  introducing  these  re- 
marks, to  convey  a  thought  which  might  be  regarded  as  a 
disparagement  to  Rev.  Mr.  Waldo,  it  will  afford  us  plea- 
sure to  introduce  here  the  notice  we  made  of  him,  which 
appeared  in  the  "National  Intelligencer,"  on  Tuesday 
morning,  after  the  first  Sabbath  he  officiated  in  the  Capi- 
tol :— 

Religious  Services  in  the  U.  S.  Capitol. — Rev.  Daniel  Waldo, 
the  recently -elected  Chaplain  to  Congress,  who  officiated  on 
Sabbath  morning,  is  a  Congregationalist  minister,  from  the 
town  of  Geddis,  near  Syracuse,  in  the  district  represented 
by  the  Hon.  Mr.  Granger,  who  introduced  his  name  into  the 
list  of  nominees  for  Chaplain  to  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives. In  an  interview  with  this  venerable  man,  we  learned 
that  he  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  is  now 
in  the  94th  year  of  his  age ;  that  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  for  which  service  he  now  receives  a  pen- 
sion ;  that  he  was  personally  acquainted  with  General  Wash- 
ington ;  that  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  York  Island,  and  was 
confined  with  several  hundred  others  in  the  fatal  Sugar-house 
prison,  in  New  York,  because  the  Jersey  prison-ship  was  too 
full  to  hold  them,  and,  after  suffering  the  cruelties  which  car- 
ried so  many  out  of  existence,  he  barely  escaped  with  his  life  ; 
that  after  the  war  he  entered  Yale  College,  and  is  now  the 
oldest  graduate  of  that  venerated  institution  ;  that  he  has  now 
been  in  the  ministry  more  than  seventy  years.  He  has  the 
appearance  and  bearing  of  a  gentleman  of  about  seventy-five 
years  of  age.  and  speaks  so  as  to  be  generally  understood  by 
an  attentive  listener.  This  is  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that 
he  has  never  been  sick.  He  now  usually  reads  six  hours  or 
more  each  day.  and,  as  he  said,  without  feeling  his  eyes  to  tire. 
We  are  not  surprised  to  learn  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague,  of 
Albany,  is  preparing  for  the  press  a  history  of  his  life ;  nor 
are  we  surprised  that  such  a  man  should  deliver  so  able  a  dis- 
course on  Sabbath  morning,  and  which  no  man  can  thought- 
fully read  without  being  profited.  His  text  was  from  the 
epistle  of  James,  i,  19 :  "  Wherefore,  my  brethren,  let  every 
man  be  swift  to  hear,  slow  to  speak,  slow  to  wrath." 

But  our  object  is  to  show  what  cannot  be  successfully 


CHAPLAINS   OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  63 

refuted,  that  the  manner  in  which  Chaplains  now  reach 
their  election,  has  run  the  office  into  disrepute,  and  to 
weaken  the  hope  that  these  chaplaincies  will  again  be  fill- 
ed with  strong  men,— men  who  will  strike  down  deep  into 
the  veneration  and  respect,  and  the  affections,  might  we 
not  say,  of  those  who  make  up  the  two  Houses  of  Con- 
gress. If  further  proof  is  wanted  of  this  fact,  look  at  the 
little  interest  taken  by  the  U.  S.  Senate  in  the  election  of 
their  Chaplain.  Rev.  H.  C.  Dean,  of  Iowa,  elected  Chap- 
lain to  the  last  Session  of  the  U.  S.  Senate,  was  a  local 
Methodist  preacher,  known  more  for  the  hard  blows  he  had 
dealt  against  a  new  political  party,  than  for  any  standing 
he  maintained  as  a  responsible  clergyman.  Having  the 
pastoral  care  of  no  church,  he  could  travel  through  the 
country  at  his  pleasure,  and  engage  in  such  enterprise  as 
should  interest  him  most.  He  had  the  good  sense,  on 
reaching  Washington,  to  acknowledge  that  he  had  got  be- 
yond his  depth.  Finding  himself  deficient  in  those  acquire- 
ments which  are  necessary  to  secure  a  respectful  hearing 
at  the  Capitol,  we  heard  him  say,  that,  living  on  the  prai- 
ries of  the  West,  had  done  little  to  prepare  him  for 
being  a  Chaplain  at  Washington.  Being  unable  to  ob- 
tain only  a  small  hearing  on  the  Sabbath,  he  preached  but 
few  times  in  the  Capitol  dming  the  long  Session  to  which 
he  was  appointed  a  Chaplain.  The  preceding  remarks  are 
not  designed  to  signify  aught  against  Mr.  Dean's  character 
as  a  Christian.  They  are  only  intended  as  an  indorsement 
of  his  own  expressed  opinion — in  confirmation  of  the  be- 
lief that  the  U.  S.  Senate,  as  a  body,  has  become  strangely 
indifferent,  apparently,  as  to  who  shall  fill  the  sacred  office 
of  Chaplain — or  in  what  manner  the  important  duties  of 
that  office  are  performed.     Father  Waldoj  though  greatly 


64      CHAPLAINS  OP  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT 

respected  and  beloved  as  a  Christian  patriarch  in  whom 
most  persons  felt  a  deep  interest,  as  an  extraordinary  man 
for  his  age,  yet  very  few  went  more  than  once  to  hear  him, 
as  a  preacher ;  so  that  altogether,  we  hazard  very  little  in 
asserting,  that  fewer  people  attended  public  worship  at  the 
Capitol  through  the  almost  nine  months  Session  of  Con- 
gress, than  has  ever  been  known  to  attend  in  the  same 
length  of  time. 

While  we  would  then  most  earnestly  hope  that  the  hu- 
manizing and  Christianizing  influence  of  Chaplains  might 
not  be  withheld  from  the  Army  and  the  Navy  of  a  Chris- 
tian nation,  and  that  the  services  of  a  Chaplain  may  not 
be  withdrawn  from  the  important,  yea,  momentous  delibera- 
tions of  Congress;  yet,  we  would  beseech  the  members  of 
Congress  to  duly  consider  the  deteriorating  tendency  of 
the  present  course  of  proceedings,  and  to  make  further  in- 
quiries as  to  the  propriety  of  adopting  such  a  change  as 
shall  cure  the  evil  complained  of — as  shall  secure  more  dig- 
nity and  greater  efficiency,  and  therefore  respect  for  the 
religious  teachers,  and  the  religious  teaching  in  all  the  de- 
partments of  our  government  where  its  ^importance  is  re- 
cognized. While  we  forbear  to  present  our  own  convic- 
tions of  the  importance  of  a  continued  sense  of  our  depend- 
ence, as  a  nation,  on  the  Divine  favor,  we  will  close  this 
part  of  our  work  with  the  thoughts  of  those  whose  names 
will  entitle  their  remarks  to  a  consideration  which  will,  we 
trust,  secure  an  attentive  perusal.  Said  Washington,  in 
his  "  Farewell  Address" — "  Of  all  the  dispositions  and 
habits  which  lead  to  political  prosperity,  religion  and  mo- 
rality are  indispensable  supports.  #  *  *  * 
Where  is  the  security  for  reputation,  for  life,  if  the  sense 
of  religious  obligation  desert  the  oaths  which  are  the  in- 


CHAPLAINS   OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  55 

struments  of  investigation  in  our  courts  of  justice  ?  *  * 
And  let  us  with  caution  indulge  the  supposition  that 
morality  can  he  maintained  without  religion.  Reason 
and  experience  hotli  forbid  us  to  expect  that  national  mor- 
ality can  prevail,  exclusive  of  religious  principle." 

The  last  address  which  the  Hon.  Daniel  Webster  deliv- 
ered, not  of  a  political  character  he  closed  with  the  fol- 
lowing paragraph : 

"  And  let  me  say,  gentlemen,  that  if  we  and  our  posterity 
shall  be  true  to  the  Christian  religion ;  if  we  and  they  shall 
live  alwaj^s  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  shall  respect  his  command- 
ments ;  if  we  and  they  shall  maintain  just  moral  sentiments, 
and  such  conscientious  convictions  of  duty  as  shall  control 
the  heart  and  life,  we  may  have  the  highest  hopes  of  the  fu- 
ture fortunes  of  our  country  ;  and  if  we  maintain  those  insti- 
tutions of  government  and  that  political  union  exceeding  all 
praise  as  much  as  it  exceeds  all  former  examples  of  political 
associations,  we  may  be  sure  of  one  thing — that  while  our 
country  furnishes  materials  for  a  thousand  masters  of  the  his- 
toric art,  it  will  be  no  topic  for  a  Gibbon,  it  will  have  no  de- 
cline and  fall.  It  will  go  on  prospering  and  to  prosper.  But 
if  we  and  our  posterity  reject  religious  instruction  and  au- 
thority, violate  the  rules  of  eternal  justice,  trifle  with  the  i:a- 
junctions  of  morality,  and  recklessly  destroy  the  political 
constitution  which  holds  us  together,  no  man  can  tell  how 
sudden  a  catastrophe  may  overwhelm  us  that  shall  hury  all 
our  glory  in  profound  obscurity." — Address  before  the  New 
York  Historical  Society. 


66      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 


MK.  DUCHE'S  PKAYER. 

An  article  in  the  National  Intelligencer,  which  contained 
an  allusion  to  the  employment  of  a  Chaplain  to  the  first 
Congress  of  the  Colonies,  as  described  on  pages  9  and  10, 
induced  a  friend,  unknown  to  us,  the  next  day,  to  send  to 
the  Editors  of  that  paper  the  following  extract.  We 
insert  it  in  this  place  as  another  illustration  of  that 
religious  trust — that  sense  of  dependence  on  the  Al- 
mighty which  these  fathers  of  our  country  were  ever 
ready  to  manifest  and  maintain.  See  also  the  remarks  of 
Franklin,  on  the  11th  page : 

Extract  of  Letter  from  John  Adams  to  Mrs.  Adams,  dated 
Philadelphia,  September  16,  1774. 

"  When  the  Congress  first  met,  Mr.  Gushing  made  a  motion 
that  it  should  be  opened  with  prayer.  It  was  opposed  by  Mr. 
Jay,  of  New  York,  and  Mr.  Rutledge,  of  South  Carolina,  be- 
cause we  were  so  divided  in  religious  sentiments — some 
Quakers,  some  Anabaptists,  some  Presbyterians,  and  some 
Congregationalists — that  we  could  not  join  in  the  same  act  of 
worship.  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  arose  and  said :  '  He  was  no 
bigot,  and  could  hear  a  prayer  from  a  gentleman  of  piety  and 
virtue,  who  was  at  the  same  time  a  friend  to  his  country.  He 
was  a  stranger  in  Philadelphia,  but  had  heard  that  Mr.  Duche 
(Dushay  they  pronounce  it)  deserved  that  character;  and 
therefore  he  moved  that  Mr.  Duche,  an  Episcopal  clergyman, 
might  be  desired  to  read  prayers  to  the  Congress  to  morrow 
morning.'  The  motion  was  seconded  and  passed  in  the  aflBr- 
mative.  Mr.  Randolph,  our  president,  waited  on  Mr.  Duch6, 
and  received  for  answer  that,  if  his  health  would  permit,  he 
certainly  would.  Accordingly,  next  morning  he  appeared  with 
his  clerk  and  in  his  pontifical,  and  read  several  prayers  in  the 


CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  57 

established  form,  and  then  read  the  collect  for  the  seventh  day 
of  September,  which  was  the  thirty-fifth  Psalm.  You  must 
remember  this  was  the  next  morning  after  we  heard  the  hor- 
rible rumor  of  the  cannonade  of  Boston.  I  never  saw  greater 
effect  upon  an  audience.  It  seemed  as  if  Heaven  had  ordained 
that  Psalm  to  be  read  on  that  morning. 

"  After  this  Mr.  Duche,  very  unexpected  to  everybody, 
struck  out  into  an  extemporary  prayer,  which  filled  the  bosom 
of  every  man  present.  I  must  confess  I  never  heard  a  better 
prayer,  or  one  so  well  pronounced.  Episcopalian  as  he  is,  Dr. 
Cooper  never  prayed  with  such  fervor,  such  ardor,  such  ear- 
nestness and  pathos,  and  in  language  so  elegant  and  sublime, 
for  America,  for  Congress,  for  the  Province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  and  especially  the  town  of  Boston.  It  has  had  an  excel- 
lent effect  upon  everybody  here.  I  must  beg  you  to  read  that 
Psalm." 


58  dfiAPLAINS   OF   THE   GENERAL   GOVERNMENT. 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  CLERGY  AS  EXPRESSED  IN 
CONGRESS. 

Note  to  Page  5. 
Passing  by  what  was  said  in  support  of  the  clergy,  in  the  Senate,  by  Mr. 
Everett,  Mr.  Seward,  Mr.  Sumner,  and  others  we  will  here  introduce  a 
few  short  extracts  from  the  opposition. 

Senator  Butleb. — "  When  the  clergy  quit  the  province  which  is  assign- 
ed to  them,  in  which  they  can  dispense  the  Gospel — that  Gospel  which  is 
represented  as  the  lamb,  not  as  the  tiger  or  the  lion — when  they  would  con- 
vert the  lamb  into  the  lion,  going  about  in  the  form  of  agitators,  seeking 
whom  they  may  devour,  instead  of  the  meek  and  lowly  representatives  of 
Christ,  they  divest  themselves  of  all  respect  which  I  can  give  them.  Sir,  the 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  are  the  representatives  of  the  lowly  and  poor  lamb 
— of  Christ ;  but  when  the  men  who  have  signed  that  paper — I  do  not  know 
with  what  ends ;  I  do  not  say  a  word  against  them  as  individuals,  for  I  have 
no  doubt  they  are  good  and  respectable,  and  many  of  them  Christians — as- 
sume to  organize  themselves  as  clergymen  to  come  before  the  country  and 
protest  against  the  deliberations  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  they  de- 
serve, at  least,  the  grave  censure  of  the  body." 

Senator  Douglas.—"  It  is  evident,  sir,  that  these  men  know  not  what  they 
are  talking  about.  It  is  evident  that  they  ought  to  be  rebuked,  and  requir- 
ed to  confine  themselves  to  their  vocation,  instead  of  neglecting  their  flocks, 
and  bringing  our  holy  religion  into  disrepute  by  violating  its  sacred  princi- 
ples, and  disregarding  the  obligations  of  truth  and  honor,  by  presenting  here 
a  document  which  is  so  offensive  that  no  gentleman  can  indorse  it  without 
violating  all  the  rules  of  courtesy,  of  propriety,  and  of  honor." 

Senator  Mason. — "  Their  mission  upon  earth  is  unknown  to  the  Govern- 
ment. Of  all  others,  they  are  the  most  encroaching,  and,  as  a  body,  arro- 
gant class  of  men.  What  do  these  ministers  say  1  Do  they,  as  citizens, 
enter  into  a  statement  of  the  facts  of  which  they  complain  7  Do  they  recite 
what  will  be  the  political  eflFects  of  the  measure  of  which  they  complain  1 
No ;  they  inform  us  that  they  come  here,  through  their  petition,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Almighty,  and  invoke  His  vengeance  upon  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  as  about  to  commit,  in  their  judgment,  a  great  moral  wrong." 

Hon.  Mr.  Macdonald,  of  Maine,  said  :  "  In  this  connection  I  will  simply 
remark,  in  justice  to  the  North,  that  I  have  been  surprised  at  the  spirit  of 
the  denunciations  which  comes  from  the  northern  pulpit.  These  harangues 
are  so  violent,  abusive,  denunciatory,  and  so  gross  a  violation  of  common 
decency,  that  I  do  not  fear  the  effect  they  will  have  upon  the  patriotism  of 
the  country.  I  do  look  with  alarm,  however,  to  the  effect  they  will  have 
upon  the  morals  of  the  North.  While  these  denunciations  will  not  abate  the 
patriotic  feeling  of  the  people,  they  will,  I  fear,  corrunt  the  minds  of  our 
youth." 

Hon.  Mr.  Hibbaed,  of  N.  H.,  said :  "  Some  three  thousand  clergymen 
have  come  from  the  Senate  Chamber  by  memorial,  protesting,  as  they 
allege,  '  in  the  name  of  Almighty  God,  and  in  his  presence,'  against  this 
measure,  as  a  '  breach  of  faith,'  a  '  great  moral  wrong,'  and  denouncing 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      59 

'  the  judgments  of  the  Almighty'  upon  its  supporters  !"  *  *  *  '•'  They  say 
they  have  a  legal  right  thus  to  mingle  in  political  affairs.  So  they  have ; 
thanks  to  the  liberality  and  toleration  of  the  Constitution  and  laws,  it  is  their 
daily  business  to  blacken  and  denounce.  There  is  no  doubt  of  their  right, 
Mr.  Chairman,  and  equally  clear  is  the  right  of  others  to  condemn  their 
conduct,  rebuke  their  presumption,  and  laugh  at  their  folly." 

In  contrast  with  the  foregoing  extracts,  we  will  here  insert  Hon.  Daniel 
Webster's  opinion  of  the  clergymen  of  these  United  States,  as  expressed  in 
his  argument  on  the  Girard  Will,  in  the  Supreme  Court  in  1844. 

"Sir,  I  take  it  upon  myself  to  say,  that  in  no  country  in  the  world,  upon 
either  continent,  can  there  be  found  a  body  of  ministers  of  the  Gospel  who 
perform  so  much  service  to  man,  in  such  a  full  spirit  of  self-denial,  under 
60  little  encouragement  from  Government  of  any  kind,  and  under  circum- 
stances, always  much  straitened  and  often  distressed,  as  the  ministers  of  the 
Gospel  in  the  United  States  of  all  denominations. 

"They  form  no  part  of  any  established  order  of  religion  ;  they  constitute 
no  hierarchy  ;  they  enjoy  no  peculiar  privileges — in  some  of  the  States  they 
are  even  shut  out  from  all  participation  in  the  political  rights  and  privileges 
enjoyed  by  their  fellow  citizens :  they  enjoy  no  tithes — no  public  provision 
of  any  kind.  And  except  here  and  there,  in  largo  cities,  where  a  wealthy 
individual  occasionally  makes  a  donation  for  the  support  of  public  worship, 
what  have  they  to  depend  upon  1  They  have  to  depend  entirely  on  the  • 
voluntary  contributions  of  those  who  hear  them. 

"  And  this  body  of  clergymen  has  shown,  to  the  honor  of  their  own  coun- 
try, and  to  the  astonishment  of  the  hierarchies  of  the  old  world,  that  it  is 
practicable  in  free  Governments  to  raise  and  sustain  a  body  of  clergymen — 
which  for  devotedness  to  their  sacred  calling,  for  purity  of  life  and  character, 
for  learning,  intelligence,  piety,  and  that  wisdom  which  cometh  from  above, 
is  inferior  to  none,  and  superior  to  most  others,  by  voluntary  contributions 
alone. 

"  I  hope  that  our  learned  men  have  done  something  for  the  honor  of  our 
literature  abroad.  I  hope  that  the  courts  of  justice  and  members  of  the  b«v 
of  this  country  have  done  something  to  elevate  the  character  cf  the  profession 
of  the  law — I  hope  that  the  discussions  above  (in  Congres.^)  have  done  some- 
thing to  meliorate  the  condition  of  the  human  race,  to  .secure  and  extead  the 
great  charter  of  human  rights,  and  to  strengthen  and  advance  the  great 
principles  of  human  liberty.  But  I  contend  that  no  literary  efforts,  no  ad- 
judications, no  constitutnioal  discussions,  nothing  that  has  been  done  or 
said  in  favor  of  the  great  interests  of  universal  man,  has  done  this  country 
more  credit  at  home  and  abroad,  than  the  establishment  of  our  body  of 
clergymen,  their  support  by  voluntary  contributions,  and  the  general  excel- 
lence of  their  character,  their  piety,  and  learning." 


60 


CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPLAINS  TO  CONaKESS. 


Statement  showing  the  names  of  persons  who  have  served  as 
Chaplains  to  the  U.  S.  Senate  from  the  organization  of  the 
Government  to  the  present  time  ; — also,  as  far  as  ascertain- 
ed, the  Church  to  which  they  severally  belonged. 

The  initials  opponitc  the  name  signify  jB.,  for  Baptist,  C.for  Congrega- 
tionalist,  E.for  Episcopalian,  M.for  Methodist^  P.  for  Presbyterian,  R. 
C.for  Roman  Catholic. 


NA'JES. 

CHURCH. 

From 

To 

K«v.  Dr.  Provost, 

E. 

-    1789 

1790 

Right  Rev.  Bishop  White, 

E. 

-     1790 

1800 

Right  Rev.  Bishop  Clagett, 

E. 

-     1800 

1801 

Rev.  Dr.  E.  Gantt, 

E. 

-    1801 

1804 

Rev.  A.  T.  McCormick, 

E. 

-     1804 

1805 

Rev.  Dr.  Gantt, 

E. 

-    1805 

1806 

Rev,  John  J.  Sayrs, 

E. 

-    1806 

1807 

Rev.  Dr.  Gantt, 

E. 

-    1807 

Declinet 

Rev.  A.  T.  McCormick, 

E. 

-    1807 

1808 

Rev.  M.  Elliott, 

—           « 

-    1808 

1809 

Rev.  M.  Wilmer, 

E. 

-    1809 

Rev.O.B.  Brown, 

B. 

-    1809 

1810 

Rev.  Mr.  Addison, 

E. 

-    1810 

1811 

Rev.  J.  Breckenridge, 

P. 

-    1811 

1814 

Rev.  Jesse  Lee, 

M. 

-    1814 

1815 

Rev.  J.  Glendi, 

P. 

-    1815 

1816 

Rev.  J.  Glendi, 

P. 

-    1816 

Decline 

Rev.  S.  E.  Dwight, 

C. 

-    1816 

1817 

Rev.  Wm.  Hawley, 

E. 

-    1817 

1818 

Rev.  John  Clark, 

P. 

-    1818 

1819 

Rev.  B.  Allison, 

B. 

-    1819 

1820 

Rev.  Wm.  Ryland, 

M. 

-    1820 

1821 

CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      61 


NAMES. 

CHUKCH. 

From 

To 

Bev.  C.  P.  Mcllvainej 

E. 

-    1821 

1823 

Rev.  W.  Staughton, 

B. 

-    1823 

1824 

Rev.  C.  P.  Mcllvaine, 

E. 

-    1824 

1825 

Rev.  W.  Staughton, 

B. 

-    1825 

1826 

Rev.  W.  Ryland, 

M. 

-    1826 

1829 

Rev.  H.  B.  Johns, 

E. 

-    1829 

1831 

Rev.  J.  P.Durbui, 

M. 

-    1831 

1832 

Rev.  C.  C.  Pise, 

R.O. 

-    1832 

1833 

Rev.  T,  W.  Hatch, 

E. 

-    1833 

1835 

Rev.  E.  Y.  Higby, 

E. 

-    1835 

1837 

Rev.  Henry  Slicer, 

M. 

-    1837 

1839 

Rev.  G.  G.  Cookman, 

M. 

-    1839 

1841 

Rev.  Dr.  L.  Tustin, 

P. 

-    1841 

1846 

Rev.  Henry  Slicer, 

M. 

-    1846 

1849 

Rev.  Dr.  C.  M.  Butler, 

E. 

-    1849 

1853 

Rev.  Henry  Slicer, 

M. 

-    1853 

1855 

Rev.  Henry  C.  Dean, 

M. 

-    1855 

1856 

62 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT 


CHAPLAINS  TO  THE  HO.  REP. 

Statement  showing  the  names  of  persons  who  have  served  as 

Chaplains  to  the  U.  S.  House  of  Representatives  from  1789  ; 

also,  as  far  as  ascertained,  the  religious  sect  to  which  they 

belonged. 

The  initials  opposite  the  name  signify,  B.for  Baptist,  Cfor  Congrega- 
tionalist,  E.  for  Episcopalian,  M.  for  Methodist,  P.for  Presbyterian,  U. 
for  Unitarian. 


NAMES. 

CHTmCH. 

From 

To 

Rev,  Dr.  Linn, 

P. 

-     1789 

1790 

Rev.  Mr.  Blair, 

P. 

-     1790 

1792 

Rev.  Dr.  A.  Green, 

P. 

-    1792 

1800 

Rev.  Thomas  Lyell, 

E. 

-    1800 

1801 

Rev.  W.  Parkinson, 

B. 

-    1801 

1804 

Rev.  W.  Bentley, 

C. 

-    1804 

Declined. 

Rev.  W.  Parkinson, 

B. 

-    1804 

Declined. 

Rev.  James  Laurie, 

P. 

-    1804 

1806 

Rev.  J.  Glendi, 

P. 

-    1806 

Declined. 

Rev.  Mr.  Elliott 

_ 

-    1806 

1807 

Rev.  0.  B.  Brown, 

B. 

-    1807 

1809 

Rev.  Jesse  Lee, 

M. 

-    1809 

1811 

Rev.  N.  Sneathen, 

M. 

-    1811 

1812 

Rev.  Jesse  Lee, 

M., 

-    1812 

1814 

Rev.  0.  B.  Brown, 

B. 

-    1814 

1015 

Rev.  S.  H.  Cone, 

B. 

-     1815 

1816 

Rev.  B.  Allison, 

B. 

-    1816 

1820 

Rev.  J.  N.  Camptell, 

P. 

-    1820 

1821 

Rev.  Jared  Sparks, 

U. 

-    1821 

1822 

Rev.  J.  Breckenridge, 

P. 

-    1822 

1823 

Rev.  H.  B.  Bascom, 

M, 

-     1823 

1824 

Rev.  Reuben  Post, 

P. 

-     1824 

1830 

Rev.  R.  R.  Gurley, 

P. 

-     1830 

1831 

Rev.  Reuben  Post, 

P. 

-     1831 

1832 

Rev.  W.  Hammett, 

M. 

-    1832 

1333 

Rev.  T.  H.  Stockton, 

M. 

-    1833 

1834 

Rev.  E.  D.  Smith, 

P. 

-    1834 

1835 

CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      63 


NAMES. 

CHURCH. 

From 

To 

Key.  T.  H.  Stockton, 

M. 

-    1835 

1836 

Rev.  0.  C.  Comstock, 

B. 

-    1836 

1837 

Rey.  L.  Tustin, 

p. 

-    1837 

1838 

Rev.  L.  R.  Reese, 

M. 

-     1838 

1839 

Rev.  Joshua  Bates, 

C. 

-    1839 

1840 

Rev.  T.  W.  Braxton, 

B. 

-     1840 

1841 

Rev.  J.  W.  French, 

E. 

-    1841 

Rev.  J.  N.  Maffitt, 

M. 

-    1841 

1842 

Rev.  J.  S.  Tiffany , 

E. 

-    1842 

1843 

Rev.  J.  S.  Linsley, 

B. 

-    1843 

1844 

Rev.  W.  M.  Daily, 

M. 

-    1844 

1845 

Rev.  W.  H.  Milburn, 

M. 

-    1845 

1846 

Rev.  W.  S.  S.  Sprole, 

P. 

-    1846 

1847 

Rev.  R.  R.  Gurley, 

P. 

-    1847 

1851 

Rev.  L.  F.  Morgan, 

M. 

-    1851 

1852 

Rev.  James  Galligher, 

P. 

-    1852 

1853 

Rev.  W.  H.  Milburn, 

M. 

-    1853 

1855 

Rev.  Daniel  Waldo, 

C. 

-    1855 

1856 

64     CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  6ENERAL  GOYERNMENT. 


CHAPLAINS  TO  THE  ARMY. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  following  list  of  Chaplains  does 
not  extend  further  back  than  the  War  of  1812-15.  In 
order  to  obtain  all  the  information  which  could  be  derived 
from  the  records  at  the  War  Department  in  Washington, 
a  note  of  inquiry  was  addressed  to  the  Secretary,  in  an- 
swer to  which  we  received  the  following  reply : 

Adjutant-General's  Office, 

Washington,  March  26,  1856. 

Sir: — Your  letter  of  the  18th  instant  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  has  been 
referred  to  this  ofl5ce,  and  in  compliance  with  your  request,  I  transmit  here- 
with a  statement  giving  the  information  desired  respecting  the  persons  who 
have  served  as  Chaplains  in  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  so  far  as  the 
same  can  be  gathered  from  the  records  of  the  Department. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

S.  COOPER, 

Adjutant'  General. 

To  L.  D.  Johnson,  Esq., 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GHXKRAL  GOVERNMENT. 


65 


CHAPLAINS  TO  THE  ARMY. 


Statement  showing  the  names  of  persons  who  have  served  as 
Chaplains  in  the  Army  of  the  United  States  from  April 
2,  1813,  and  their  term  of  service  ;  and,  as  far  as  ascertain- 
ed, the  Church  to  which  they  belonged. 

Initials  opposite  the  names  signify  B.  ^vr  Baptist,  C.  for  Congregation- 
alist,  E.for  Episcopalian,  M.for  Methodist,  P.  for  Presbyterian,  R.  G.for 
Roman  Catholic. 


NAMES.               CHURCH. 

Bate  of 
Appointment. 

Remarks. 

David  Jones, 

B. 

1813 

Discnarged  June  1, 1815. 

Peter  J.  Van  Pelt, 

,  D. 

1813 

Dutch  Reformed  Church. 

James  G.  Wilmer, 

E. 

1813 

Died  AprU  14,  1814. 

Joseph  L.  Hughes 

J 

1813 

Resigned  Aug.  5, 1813. 

Kobert  Elliott, 

1813 

Disbanded  April  14,  1818, 

Aaron  J.  Booge, 

1813 

(C                   ((                        u 

Stephen  Lindsley, 

1813 

June  1,  1815. 

Adam  Empie, 

E. 

1813 

Resigned  April  30,  1817, 

Thomas  Hersey, 

1813 

Disbanded  June  1,  1815. 

Solo.  Aiken, 

1814 

K                       ((                       (( 

C.  Tarrant, 

1814 

Died  Feb.  17,  1816. 

J.  Brannan, 

1814 

Disbanded  June  1,  1815 

Cave  Jones, 

E. 

1816 

'« April  14,  1818. 

W.  L.  McCalla, 

E. 

1816 

((            ti            « 

Thomas  Picton, 

P. 

1818 

Resigned  Jan.  1,  1825. 

C.  P.  Mcllvaine, 

E. 

1825 

'i     Dec.  31,  1827. 

Thomas  "Warner, 

(1 

1828 

»      Sept  1,  1838. 

Jaspa  Adam?, 

" 

1838 

"      Nov.  15,  1840. 

Martin  P.  Parks, 

(( 

1840 

"      Dec.  31,  1846. 

W.  T.  Sprole, 

P. 

1847 

Resigned,  1856. 

CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 


Richard  J.  Cadle,  E,, 

Abel  Bingham, 

Ezekiel  G.  Gear,  E., 
C.  C.  Beaman,  P., 
♦William  Burnett,  M-, 

Charles  Reighley,  E., 

Henry  Gregory,  E., 

Mark  S.  Cheevers,  E., 
John  J.  Ungerrer, 

Stephen  P.  Keyes, 


Fort  Crawford,  from  1838  to  July  1, 1841.  Re- 
signed. 

Fort  Brady,  from  1838  to  Nov.  1,  1840.  Dis- 
charged. 

Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota,  from  1838. 

Hancock  Barracks,  from  1838  to  Aug.  31,  1840. 

Fort  Columbus,  on  Governor's  Island,  near 
New  York  City,  from  1838  to  June  13,  1842- 
Resigned. 

Fort  Gratiot,  from  1838  to  Aug.  31,  1846. 
Garrison  withdrawn. 

Fort   Leavenworth,  from  1838  to    Sept.   30, 
1839.    Resigned. 

Fort  Monroe,  Va.,  from  1841. 

Jefferson  Barracks,  from  1839  to  June  1,  1839. 
Discharged. 

Fort  Winnebago,  from  1839  to  May  31,  1841 
Resigned. 


*  We  take  this  opportunity  to  pay  a  deserved  tribute  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bur- 
nett. Receiving  orders  from  the  Secretary  of  War  which  transferred  him  to 
another  station,  at  a  time  when  he  believed  that  the  interests  of  religion  at 
Fort  Columbus,  required  that  his  labors  among  the  soldiers  and  their 
families  should  not  be  then  broken  off,  he  resigned  the  position  of  Chaplain, 
rather  than  disobey  his  convictions  of  duty.  For  more  than  twenty-five 
years  he  has  hired  nis  own  boat,  in  which  to  reach  Governor's  Island  when 
he  should  choose,  and  has  continued  to  labor,  at  his  own  expense,  among  the 
sojourners  at  the  Fortj  with  great  success  and  acceptance. 

He  was  eminently  successful  in  drawing  the  soldiers  from  their  habits  of 
intemperance.  He  was  also  active  among  the  officers  in  circulating  peti- 
tions to  the  Secretary  of  War  (Gen.  Cass)  praying  that  spirit  rations  might 
bo  abolished,  and  that  tea,  coffee  and  sugar  be  substituted  in  their  place 
everywhere  in  the  U.  S.  Army ;  and  to  the  enduring  honor  of  that  distin- 
guished statesman  be  it  recorded,  he  issued  an  order  to  that  effect.  There 
are  now  no  spirit  rations  in  the  Army. 

Petitions,  signed  by  both  officers  and  common  soldiers,  have  repeatedly 
been  forwarded  to  the  War  Department  at  Washington,  desiring  his  re-ap- 
pointment as  Chaplain,  until  his  age  placed  him  beyond  the  rule  for  such  an 
election. 

Unwearied  in  his  labors  of  love,  both  among  soldiers  and  seamen,  he  still 
continues  (now  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age,)  indefatigable  as  ever, 


CHAPLAINS   OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  67 

David  Griffith,  E.,  Fort    Leavenworth,    from    1839  to    Dec.  31, 

1840.  Discharged. 

Henry  J.  Lamb,  Fort  Jesup, from  1839  to   1845.    Resigned. 

C.  S.  Hodges,  E.,  JeflFerson  Barracks,  from  1839  to  June  30,  1844. 

Troops  withdrawn. 

William  Scull,  E.,  Fort  Gibson,  from  1840  to  May  31,  1841. 

Presumed  to  have  resigned. 

William  A.  Whitwell,  U:,    Hancock  Barracks,  from  1840  to  Sept.  30,  1840. 

WiUiam  H.  Brockway,  Fort  Brady,  from  1840  to  Aug.  31,  1847.     Gar- 

rison withdrawn. 

John  Blake,  E,,  Hancock  Barracks,  from  1841  to  Oct.  31, 1845. 

Post  evacuated. 

George  C.  M.  Roberts,  M.,  Fort  McHenry,  Md.,  near  Baltimore,  from  1841. 

John  O'Brien,  E.,  Fort  Mackinac,  Michigan,  from  1842. 

J,  Dixon  Carder,  E.,  Fort  Hamilton,  from  1842  to  Nov.  30,  1846. 

Garrison  withdrawn. 

John  Wayland.,  E,  Fort    Columbus,    New  York,  from,  1842    to 

July  1,  1844.    Resigned. 

Leander  Ker,   E.,  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  from  1842. 

Noah  M.  Wells,  Fort  Crawford,  from  1843  to  Oct.  31,   1845. 

Post  evacuated. 

J.  M.  Clarke,  Fort  Winnebago,  from  1843  to  1845    Post  eva- 

cuated* 

to  visit  Governor's  Island,  for  the  purpose  of  distributing  tracts  and  Bibles 
and  to  hold  meetings  when  desired ;  also  for  the  same  purpose,  he  has  con- 
tinued for  years  to  visit  the  Receiving  Ship,  North  Carolina,  lykig  at  the 
Brooklyn  Navy  Yard,  every  Sabbath  afternoon.  Besides  the  performance 
of  these  duties,  he  sustains  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  Bethel  station  in  Brook- 
lyn, where  the  congregation  is  composed  mostly  of  seamen  and  their  fami- 
lies, preaching  usually  three  times  on  the  Sabbath,  to  the  great  acceptance 
of  a  usually  crowded  congregation. 

His  known  benevolence  and  long  devotion  to  this  work,  has  secured  the 
confidence  of  not  only  the  Bible  and  Tract  Societies,  but  of  others,  who  have 
the  means  of  relieving  suffering  humanity,  for  whom,  to  no  limited  extent, 
he  has  become  their  medium  of  usefulness  and  relief. 

Blessed  with  a  strong  constitution,  and  an  ardent  love  for  the  work,  he 
still  furnishes  a  hope  that  his  useful  labors  may  be  continued  long  after 
many,  who  of  younger  age  and  less  physical  ability,  shall  have  ceased  to  call 
the  prodigal  sous  in  our  army  and  naval  stations,  back  to  their  Father's 
house. 


68 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 


Henry  Axtelle,  P., 

William  Scull,  E., 

David  McManus,  E., 
J.  L.  EUiott,  P., 

John  McCarty,  E,, 
J.  F.  Fish,  E., 
Daniel  Motzer,  P., 

Matthias  Harris,  E., 
Charles  H.  Page,  E., 

H.  W.  Read, 

Dayid  Clarkson,  E., 
William  Vaux,  E., 
Samuel  Corley, 

John  Burke,  E., 
Samuel  H.  Milley,  R.  C, 
Ignacio  Ramirez,  R.  C, 

St.  Michael  Fackler,  E., 

James  De  Pui,  E., 

John  Reynolds,  E., 

J.  H.  Ver  Mehr,  E., 

Solon  W.  Manny,  E., 

David  W.  Eakins, 
John  M.  Shaw,  B., 

John  F.  Fish,  E., 

John  MoCarty,  E., 


Fort  Brooke,  from  1843  to  Nov.  4,  1850.  Trans- 
ferred to  New  Orleans  Barracks. 
Fort  Washita,    Arkansas,  from  1844  to  Oct. 

31,  1847. 
Fort  Gibson,  Arkansas,  from  1845. 
Fort  Atkinson,  from  1845.    Post  dropped  by 

"  G.  0."  66~Dec.  30,  1848. 
Jefferson  Barracks,  from  1848  to  Dec.  31,  1852. 
San  Antonio,  from  1849  to  May  31,  1852. 
El  Paso,  from  1849  to  March  15,  1852.    This 

post  dropped,  per  "  G.  0."  No.  10,  of  1852. 
Fort  Moultrie,  S.  C,  from  1849  to  March  15,'52. 
Newport  Barracks,  Kentucky,    from  1849    to 

March  15, 1852. 
Fort  Marcy,  from  1849  to  May  13,  '52.  Dropped 

from  list  of  Chaplain  posts. 
Fort  Riley,  Kansas,  1850. 
Fort  Laramie,  Nebraska,  1849. 
Fort  Towson,  from  1849  to  Dec.  31,  '52.    Re- 
signed. 
Fort  Washita,  Arkansas,  from  1850  to  Dec.  31,'52. 
Monterey,  from  1849  to  '50.     Resigned. 
Monterey,  from  1850  to  June  30,  '52.  Dropped 

from  list  of  Chaplain  posts. 
Fort   Vancouver,  from  1850  to  Aug.  9,   '50. 

Resigned. 
Fort   Kearny,    Nebraska,  from  1850  to  Au- 
gust 9,  1850. 
San  Diego,  from  1850  to  Aug.  31,  '54.    Dis- 
charged. 
San  Francisco,  from   1849  to  '51.    Dropped 

from  list  of  Chaplain  posts. 
Fort   Ripley,  Minnesota,    from  1851  to    Au- 
gust, 31,  '54. 
Fort  Belknap,  from  1852. 
Fort  Defiance,  New  Mexico,  from  1852  to  "July 

31,  1853. 
Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri,  from  1852  to  July 

31,  1853. 
Fort  Vancouver,  Washington  Territory,  from 
1853  to  Oct.  9,  '54. 


CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  69 

J.  J.  Scott,  E.,  Fort  Pickens,  from  1853  to  Aug.  15,  "54. 

William  Passmore,  E.,        Fort  Brown,  Texas,  1853  to  Aug.  15,  '54. 
Henry  Axt«lle,  P,  New  Orleans  Barracks,  from  1843  to    June 

30,  '53.  Dropped  from  list  of  Chaplain  posts. 
John  McVicker,  D.  D.,  E.,  Prof,  of  Mor.  and  Men.  Philos.,  Columbia  College, 

N.  Y.,  Fort  Wood,  Gov.  Isl.,  from  1844. 
Joshua  Sweet,  E.,  Fort  Ridgely,  Minnesota,  from  1854. 

Joseph  B.  Cottrell,  Fort  Pickens,       '«    from  1855  to  '56.  Resigned. 

Michael  Sheehan,  R.  C,        Fort  Belknap,  Texas,  from  1855. 
W.  Stoddart,  P.,  Fort  Union,  New  Mexico. 

Frederick  Tolhurst,  B.,        Fort  Fillmore,  New  Mexico. 
Tobias  M.  Michell,  E.,        Fort  Chadboume,  Texas. 
John  W.  French.  E.,  Chaplain,  and  Professor  of  Geography,  History  and 

Ethics,  Military  Academy,  West  Point,  N.  Y. 

Appointed  Aug.  16, 1856. 


70  CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 


OENERAL    REMARKS 


CHAPLAINS    OF    THE    ARMY. 


By  looking  at  the  foregoing  list  of  Chaplains  of  the 
Army,  it  will  be  seen,  that  although  thirty  are  allowed  by 
Congress,  besides  the  Chaplain  at  "West  Point  Academy, 
there  are  but  twenty-three  now  employed ;  seven  less  than 
the  number  allowed  by  law.  How  much  these  twenty- 
three  Chaplains  can  do  towards  furnishing  needful  religious 
instruction,  and  performing  the  various  duties  usually 
assigned  to  a  Christian  minister,  in  civil  life,  will  be  seen 
better  by  a  due  consideration  of  the  following  facts : 

Our  regular  army  now  consists  of  nineteen  regiments — 
one  hundred  and  ninety-eight  companies, — which  vary  in 
their  number  of  enlisted  soldiers  from  fifty  to  seventy-four, 
according  to  their  various  stations.  These  occupy  military 
posts  from  Florida  to  Texas,  and  throughout  our  vast 
Western  domain  all  along  the  great  route  to  the  Oregon 
and  Washington  Territories.  Leaving  Prof.  French  at 
"West  Point,  and  Prof.  McVicker  in  charge  of  Fort  Wood, 
in  New  York  Bay,  we  go  south  and  west  to  find  the  re- 
maining twenty-two  Chaplains,  whose  services  are  dis- 
tributed through  the  whole  army,  which  is  now  scattered 
throughout  New  Mexico,  Oregon,  California,  and  the  vast 
wilderness  of  our  unsettled  territoiy. 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      71 

Whether  this  number  of  preaching  schoolmasters,  be 
sufficient  to  create  any  just  alarm  about  their  effecting 
a  union  of  Church  and  State,  or  whether  the  humble  sub- 
sistence drawn  for  them  from  the  National  Treasury,  be 
a  burden  to  the  country,  are  topics  which  deserve  con- 
sideration, especially  from  those  who  annually  petition 
Congress  that  the  office  of  Chaplain  may  be  abolished 
by  the  Greneral  Grovemment.  On  the  contrary,  we  would 
submit  the  inquiry,  and  we  hope  it  may  be  made  in  the 
Councils  of  the  Administration — that  if  it  be  proper  to 
employ  any  Chaplains  to  the  Army,  why  not  employ  a 
greater  number? — A  sufficient  number,  at  least,  to  give 
some  equality  of  privilege  to  all  who  are  in  the  Govern- 
ment service.  If  the  finances  of  the  country  were  in  an 
embarrassed  state,  or  if  it  had  not  an  overflowing 
Treasury,  there  might  be  some  semblance  of  an  excuse 
for  sending  soldiers  out  into  the  wilderness,  there  to  as- 
similate to  savage  life,  in  the  entire  absence  of  those 
who  will  make  it  their  special  duty  to  administer  to  their 
moral  and  spiritual  necessities.  Why  not  increase  the 
number  of  Chaplains  in  the  same  ratio  with  the  increase 
of  the  army  ?  We  trust  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when 
the  attention  of  Congress  will  be  called  to  this  subject. 


72 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPLAINS  IN  THE  U.  S.  NAYY. 

Statement  showing  the  names  of  persons  who  have  served 
as  Chaplains  in  the  Navy  of  the  United  States  since  1799, 
their  term  of  service,  and,  as  far  as  ascertained,  the  Church 
to  which  they  belonged. 

Initials  opposite  the  name  signify :  B.  for  Baptist^  C.  for  Congrega- 
tionalist,  E.  for  Episcopalian,  M.  for  Methodist,  P.  for  Presbyterian, 
R.  C.  for  Homan  Catholic. 

Date  of 
NAMES.        CHDRCH.    AppoitdmH.  Remarks. 

Discharged,  1801. 

Disappeared  from  the  register,  1801. 
Discharged,  1801. 
Resigned,  1805. 
Discharged,  1802. 
Last  appeared,  1806. — Dead. 
Dismissed  1829. 
Dismissed  1808. 
Dismissed  1809. 

Disappeared  from  the  register,  1809. 
Last  appeared  on  register  1815,   on 

furlough. 
Last  appeared  1813. 
Died,  1823. 
Resigned,  1813. 
Died,  1828. 

Disappeared  from  register  1848. 
Resigned,  1825. 
Last  appeared  on  register  1815,  frigate 

Constellation. 
Died,  1826. 
Last  appeared  on  register,  1843,  N.  Y. 

Navy-Yard. 
Resigned,  1828. 


William  Balch, 

-        1799 

Robert  Thompson, 

—        1800 

Eli  Valett, 

-        1800 

Alex.  McFarlan, 

—        1802 

Samuel  Chandler, 

—  Not  known. 

Noadich  Morris, 

—        1803 

Robert  Dennison, 

—        1804 

William  Petty, 

—        1807 

William  Robinson, 

—        1809 

Andrew  More, 

-        1809 

William  H.  Briscoe, 

1809 

Garrett  Bane, 

1809 

David  P.  Adams, 

-        1811 

Andrew  Hunter, 

—        1811 

John  Cook, 

—        1812 

Richard  C  Morton, 

1815 

Cheever  Fletcher, 

—        1815 

Golden  Coope, 

—        1815 

N.  Andrews, 

—        1816 

John  Ireland, 

E.         1817 

James  Brook.", 

1818 

CHAPLAINS   OP   THE   GENERAL   GOVERNMENT. 


Date  of 

NAMES.           CHURCH. 

Appointm't.                     Remarks. 

PhUander  Chaae, 

E. 

1818 

Resigned,  1820. 

James  Everett, 

C. 

1818 

Resigned,  1837. 

John  N.  Hambleton 

> 

1819 

Resigned,  183- 

Cave  Jones, 

E. 

1824 

Last  appeared  on  register  1818,  on 
furlough. 

Addison  Searle, 

E. 

1820 

Died,  1851. 

Burgess  Allison, 

B. 

1823 

Died,  1827. 

James  Q-.  Ogilvie, 

B. 

1825 

Disappeared  from  register. 

John  McCarty, 

E. 

1825 

Died,  1836. 

John  W.  Grier, 

P. 

1825 

Waiting  orders. 

*Chaa.  L.  Stewart, 

P. 

1825 

On  duty  in  U.  S.  receiving  ship  North 
Carolina,  at  Brooklyn  Navy- Yard. 

John  Addison, 

— 

1825 

Resigned,  1828. 

Edw'd  McLaughlin, 

P. 

1826 

Dead. 

John  P.  Fenner, 

E. 

1828 

Resigned,  1833. 

Gt.  W.  Ridgley, 

E. 

1828 

Resigned,  1830. 

T.  J.  Harrison, 

P. 

1823 

Waiting  orders." 

Wm.  Kyland, 

M. 

1829 

Died,  1846 

t  Walter  Colton, 

C. 

1830 

Died,  1851. 

James  Wiltbank, 

E. 

1833 

Died,  1842. 

J  George  Jones, 

E. 

1833 

On  leave  of  absence. 

Thos.  R.  Lambert, 

E. 

8833 

Resigned,  1856,  and  has  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  rector  of  a  church. 

Peter  G.Clark, 

E. 

1838 

Waiting  orders. 

Jared  T.  ElUott, 

P. 

1838 

Resigned,  1842. 

J.  B.B.Wilmer, 

E. 

1839 

Resigned,  1844,  and  is  now  rector  of 
St.  Mark's  Church  Philadelphia. 

Rodman  Lewis, 

E. 

1829 

Waiting  orders. 

Fitch  W.  Taylor, 

E. 

1841 

Frigate  Independence. 

Mortimer  R.  Talbot, 

,  E. 

1841 

On  duty  at  the  Naval  Hospital,  PhU. 

T.  S.  Harris, 

P. 

1841 

Dead. 

Samuel  T.  Gillet, 

M. 

1841 

Resigned  in  1843,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  the  Christian  ministry. 

Charles  H.  Alden, 

E. 

1841 

Died,  1846. 

Moses  B.  Chase, 

E. 

1841 

U.  S.  steamship  frigate  Wabash. 

Chester  Newell, 

E. 

1841 

Waiting  orders. 

Theodore  B.  Barton 

:,E. 

1841 

Wm.  McKenny, 

M. 

1841 

Waiting  orders. 

Joseph  Stockbridge,  B. 

1841 

Frigate  Savannah. 

74 


CHAPLAINS   OF   THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENT. 


Photius  Fisk, 

P. 

1844 

John  P.  Lathrop, 

0. 

1843 

J.  W.  Newton, 

P. 

1842 

Nathaniel  Frost, 

B. 

1844 

George  W.  Swan, 

— 

1844 

George  W.  Latham 

,B. 

1845 

N.  C.  Fletcher, 

U. 

1845 

Thomaa  C.  Stanly, 

M. 

1847 

Edwin  Eaton, 

— 

1847 

John  L.  Lenhart, 

M. 

1847 

John  Blake, 

E. 

1847 

Fidm'd  C.  Bittengei 

:,  P. 

1850 

OrviUe  Dewey, 

U. 

1851 

Vemon  Eskridge, 

M. 

1853 

SMafion  Noble, 

P. 

1853 

Chaa.  W.  Thomaa, 

M. 

1853 

John  Lee  Watson, 

E. 

1855 

Bobert  Given, 

— 

1865 

Henry  Wood, 

0. 

1866 

DaUqf 
AppointmH.  Remarks. 

On  duty  at  the  Navy- Yard,  P( 

Died,  1843. 

Waiting  orders. 

Service  not  ascertained. 
Service  not  ascertained. 


Service  not  ascertained. 

Service  not  ascertained. 

On  duty  Navy- Yard,  Philadelphia. 

On  duty  Navy- Yard,  Brooklyn. 

On  duty  Naval  Asylum,  Philadelphia. 

Resigned,  1853. 

Died  Sept.  18,  1865.    Naval  Hosptal, 

Norfolk. 
Frigate  Congress. 
Sloop-of-war  Jamestown. 
Attached  to  the  East  India  sqnadrooi 
At  sea. 
Liservipe. 


CHAPLAINS    OF    THE   GENERAL    GOVERNMENT.  75 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES  TO  PAGES  73,  74. 

*  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart,  previous  to  receiving  the  appointment  of  Chaplain 
in  the  Navy,  had  been  a  missionary  to  the  Sandwich  Islands.  He  has 
reached  a  favorable  distinction  both  in  literature  and  religion.  Among  his 
published  writings  the  following  stand  prominent — "Residence  at  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,"  "  Visit  to  the  South  Seas,"  "  Sketches  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,"  "  Brazil  and  La  Plate." 

f  Rev.  Mr.  Colton  attained  to  no  inconsiderable  distinction  as  a  literary 
gentleman  and  a  Christian  minister.  Bom  in  Rutland,  Vermont,  in  1808, 
he  was  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in  1822,  and  in  1830  was  appointed 
Chaplain  in  the  U.  S.  Navy.  He  was  author  of  several  books,  which,  as  a 
test  of  their  popularity,  have  had  a  wide  circulation.  Among  these  are : 
"  Ship  and  shore,"  "Deck  and  Port,"  "Three  years  in  California."  He 
was  the  builder  of  the  first  school-house  in  the  State  of  California,  and  was 
the  first  (through  the  "  North  American,"  Philadelphia,)  to  make  known  to 
the  residents  of  the  Atlantic  States,  the  gold  discovery  of  that  country.  He 
died  in  Philadelphia,  greatly  laments,  on  the  22d  of  January,  1851,  in 
the  44th  year  of  his  age. 

X  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  has  risen  to  eminence  in  literature  and  science,  is 
author  of  works  of  travel,  and  is  now  on  leave  of  absence  from  duty  as 
Chaplain ;  while  making  a  tour  of  scientific  discovery  and  investigation  in 
South  America. 

§  Rev.  Mason  Noble,  successor  to  the  distinguished  Dr.  J.  Orville  Dewey, 
as  Chaplain  in  the  Navy-Yard,  at  Washington,  and  now  attached  to  the 
Mediterranean  squadron,  is  an  honor  to  his  rank  as  Chaplain.  His  ripe 
scholarship  in  theological  and  general  literature,  the  chasteness  of  his  style 
in  conversation  and  as  a  writer ;  and  the  purity  of  his  life  as  a  Christian 
minister,  make  him  an  example  worthy  of  imitation. 

For  a  further  notice  of  him,  see  pages  44,  79,  of  "  The  Churches  and 
Pastors  of  Washington,"  just  published  by  M.  W.  Dodd,  New  York. 


76      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 


THE  REUGIOUS  SECT  OF  CHAPLAINS. 


After  making  a  greater  ejffort  to  obtain  correct  informa- 
tion as  to  the  sect  to  wMch  each  of  the  government  Chap- 
lains have  belonged,  than  even  the  importance  of  it  might 
appear  to  justify,  yet  in  a  few  instances  we  have  entirely 
failed,  and  in  others,  it  is  possible,  we  may  have  been  mis- 
led. Should  such  an  error  be  discovered  by  any  one  who 
shall  feel  a  sufficient  desire  to  be  correctly  represented  in 
this  behalf,  as  to  address  a  note  to  the  publishers  of  this 
work,  the  right  initial  shall  appear  against  his  name  in  the 
next  edition.  But  very  few  of  those  who  acted  as  Chap- 
lains in  the  Navy^  previous  to  the  year  1825,  are  designa- 
ted as  belonging  to  any  church — ^for  the  reason  that  some 
of  them,  at  least,  held  no  such  relation — nor  made  any 
claim  to  the  office  and  character  of  a  Christian  minister. 
They  were,  for  reasons  best  known  to  the  officer  in  com- 
mand, rated  Chaplains — more  for  the  sake  of  the  compen- 
sation perhaps,  than  for  any  religious  service  they  rendered, 
beyond  reading  prayers  perhaps  at  the  burial  of  the  dead. 

EFFORTS     TO     ELEVATE    THE     STANDARD     CHARACTER     AMONG 
NAVAL    CHAPLAINS. 

The  late  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Southard^  on  coming  into  the 
cabinet  of  John  Q.  Adams,  as  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  set 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      77 

atout  the  work  of  elevating  the  standard  of  character 
among  the  Chaplains  in  his  department.  He  established 
the  rule — ^which,  we  believe,  has  since  been  adhered  to  by 
his  successors — to  appoint  no  man  as  Chaplain,  who  was 
not  an  accredited  ordained  minister,  holding  a  cordial  rela- 
tion to  some  ecclesiastical  body.  Knowing  that  there  were 
men  in  the  Navy  holding  the  rank  of  Chaplains,  who  were 
utterly  unqualified  to  perfoim  the  appropriate  duties  of  that 
office,  he  commenced  making  removals,  as  fast  as  he  could 
find  others  duly  quahfied  to  take  their  places.  But  with 
his  characteristic  love  of  justice  and  humanity,  Mr.  South- 
ard was  unwilling,  as  he  said,  to  take  any  bread  from  the 
mouths  of  those  to  whom  government  had  given  it.  his  re- 
movals were  generally  made  by  transferring  rated  Chaplains 
to  another  place  in  the  government  service,  of  a  more 
secular  character. 

Mr.  Southard  bestowed  his  first  appointment  upon  a 
returned  missionary.  Having  had  some  knowledge  of  his 
labors,  not  only  among  the  Sandwich  Islanders,  but  also 
among  the  seamen  who  entered  those  ports,  the  missionary's 
attention  was  directed  to  a  chaplaincy  in  the  Navy,  as 
opening  a  field  of  usefulness  for  which  his  experience  had 
already  prepared  him. 

This  commenced  a  new  epoch  in  the  history  of  Naval 
Chaplains,  and  there  is  now  found  among  them  men  of 
sincere  piety,  a  high  order  of  learning  and  of  general  intel- 
ligence.* 

*  In  making  a  special  notice  of  some  of  these  Chaplains,  because  we  know 
of  them  what  we  do  not  happen  to  know  of  others,  it  is  no  purpose  of  ours 
to  make  any  inappropriate  distinctions.  Each  of  the  twenty-four  Chaplains 
now  in  the  Navy  are  doing  credit  to  their  profession  as  Christian  ministers 
for  aught  we  know  to  the  contrary 


78     CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 


REASONS  rOE  INCREASING  THE  NUMBER  OP  CHAPLAINS  IN 
THE  NAVY. 

The  epocli  commenced  by  Secretary  Southard  more 
than  thirty  years  ago,  ought  now  to  be  followed  by  an- 
other. If  the  first  might  be  regarded  as  giving  to  the 
Naval  chaplaincy  more  elevation  of  character  and  greater 
effectiveness,  the  second  should  be  characterized  by  extend- 
ing it — the  one  by  giving  to  it  the  true  standard  of  the 
Christian  minister,  the  other  by  bringing  a  greater  number 
of  Chi'istian  ministers  into  this  field. 

As  a  proof  that  "  the  harvest  is  great,"  and  the  laborers 
employed  in  it  "  are  few,"  let  us  contemplate  the  following 
facts.     The  present  numerical  force  of  the  U.  S.  Navy  em- 
braces more  than  a  thousand  commissione'd  and  warrant 
officers,  and  more   than  seven  thousand  seamen,  (the  full 
compliment  of  "  recruits"  [sailors]  allowed  by  congress  is 
seven  thousand  and  five  hundred,)  making  in  all  between 
eight  and  nine  thousand  men.     These  officers  and  recruits 
man  more  than  seventy  vessels  of  war,  which  are  distributed 
through  every  latitude,  and  calling  at  almost  every  port  in 
the  accessible  parts  of  the  world.     Viewed  in  the  light  in 
which  they  are  here  contemplated,  these  war  vessels  may 
fitly  represent  as  many  floating  churches ;  their  tall  masts 
pointing  heavenward,  filled  with  hearers,  and  all  sailing  on 
the  ocean,  that  great  emblem  of  the  eternity  to  whose 
shores  we  are  all  approaching,  as  we  float  round  the  world ! 
It  might  be  interesting  to  the  reader,  who  may  not  have 
made  himself  familiar  with  this  subject,  to  know  the  nume- 
rical size  of  these  various  congregations,  which  range  as 
follows :  Ten  of  these  ships-of-the-line  are  allowed  each  (in 
time  of  peace)  eight  hundred  and  twenty  men ;  which  num 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      79 

"ber,  on  the  land,  is  usually  called  a  large  congregation.—. 
There  are  seven  first  class  steam  frigates,  whose  full  com- 
pliment win  average  each  five  hundred  men — a  very  good 
sized  audience.  There  are  twenty-one  other  steamers -of 
various  classes,  whose  compliment  of  men  vary,  according 
to  the  service  in  which  they  are  engaged,  from  two  hundred 
and  forty  to  a  hundred  and  ninety,  and  so  on  down  to  eighty 
men.  There  are  nineteen  sloops  of  war,  which  are,  like 
the  steamers,  divided  into  classes,  of  which  the  largest  re- 
quire a  crew  of  three  hundred  men,  others  twe  hundred, 
others  again  one  hundred  and  ninety,  while  the  smallest 
require  only  ahout  one  hundred  and  forty  men.  Besides 
the  foregoing,  there  are  several  smaller  vessels  in  the  Navy 
called  brigs,  schooners,  receiving  ships,  &c.,  whose  crews 
vary  according  to  circumstances — ^but  none  carry  so  few 
men  as  to  render  unimportant  the  means  of  grace  and 
religious  instruction.  Such  then  is  the  field — the  various 
sized  congregations  for  our  Naval  Chaplains.  Looking  at 
this  great  field  then,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  Congress 
allows  to  it  only  twenty-four  Chaplains,  it  may  well  be 
said,  that  the  harvest  is  great  and  the  laborers  few — espe- 
cially when  it  is  known  that  half  of  this  number  of  Chap- 
lains are  appointed  to  receiving  ships,  to  navy  yards,  and 
to  naval  hospitals  on  shore,  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  to 
Pensacola.  Then  take  from  the  nimaber  left  those  who  are 
on  "  leave  of  absence,"  and  "  waiting  orders,"  it  never 
leaves  a  dozen  in  number  for  service  in  sea-going  ships. 

We  therefore  pray  the  lords  of  this  harvest,  to  send  forth 
more  laborers.  If  man  has  an  immortal  destiny,  and  if 
this  life,  with  all  the  uncertainties  which  attend  its  con- 
tinuance, is  our  only  preparation  place,  for  an  unending 
life  to  come,  then  is  not  a  Christian  government  assuming  a 


80      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

great  responsibility,  to  place  so  many  men  amidst  increased 
liabilities  to  sickness  in  unhealthy  climates  and  sudden 
death,  without  the  means  of  religious  instruction  while  liv- 
ing, and  the  ordinary  observances  of  a  Christian  burial 
when  dead  ? 

But  with  all  the  destitution  we  have  been  contemplating, 
there  is  no  cause  for  despondency  or  discouragement  about 
the  future.  Whoever  looks  back,  only  thirty  years,  can 
see  a  great  advance  in  moral  progress,  both  in  the  Army 
and  Navy.  In  the  Army,  that  terrible  evil  of  dealing  out 
legalized  spirit  rations  has  long  since  been  abolished,  and 
nutritive  beverages  substituted  instead.  In  the  Navy, 
the  brutalizing  spectacle  will  never  again  be  witnessed  of 
tricing  up  men  by  their  wrists,  in  the  gangway,  to  be  lacer- 
ated by  that  horrid  instrument  of  torture,  the  cat-o'-nine- 
tails. With  a  generous  increase  of  the  wages  of  seamen, 
and  an  increase  of  motive  to  good  conduct,  those  who  were 
formerly  tallied  of  as  "  old  salts"  are  now  beginning  to  be 
recognized  as  men,  both  by  government,  and  by  officers  on 
the  quarter-deck. 

We  cannot  but  hope,  yea,  believe,  that  a  glorious  destiny 
awaits  the  U.  S.  Navy.  How  gratifying  it  will  be  to  see 
the  moral  power  of  this  right  arm  of  the  nation,  increase 
in  an  approximate  ratio  with  its  physical  strength — to 
see  it  become  the  medium  of  the  great  life-giving  ideas  of 
Christianity  and  self-government,  and  a  higher  civilization  to 
nations  yet  in  the  valley  and  shadow  of  death.  To  this 
end  let  Chaplains  be  appointed  to  every  war  vessel  carry- 
ing a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  justify  the  appointment 
of  a  surgeon,  and  let  a  part  of  their  work  be  to  carry  a 
given  number  of  Bibles  and  other  appropriate  books  print- 
ed in  the  language  of  the  nations  they  visit,  and  thus  be- 


CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT.      81 

come  the  impersonation  of  a  Christian,  who  is  the  light  of 
the  world. 

In  a  speech  delivered  by  Hon.  F.  P.  Stanton,  at  the 
anniversary  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  at  which 
the  late  Hon.  Mr.  Clay  presided  for  the  last  time,  he  said : 

"  Hitherto  its  course  has  heen  marked  by  the  mangled  bodies 
of  its  myriad  victims,  and  by  the  shattered  institutions  of  van- 
quished nations.  Every  sea  has  been  crimsoned  with  human 
blood,  and  a  thousand  rich  argosies  have  gone  down  into  the  deep 
before  its  desolating  blast.  But  a  great  and  beneficent  change 
has  commenced.  The  vast  means  necessary  to  maintain  armies 
and  navies  have  been  hitherto  scattered  and  wasted  in  prodigious 
exhibitions  of  national  power  which  bring  little  or  no  return  of 
advantage.  The  transformation  about  to  be  effected  is  to  change 
this  mighty  current  into  channels  of  commerce,  to  promote  the 
friendly  and  profitable  intercourse  of  nations.  We  have  already 
established  lines  of  steamers,  fitted  for  war  purposes,  yet  trans- 
porting the  mail,  and  carrying  our  commerce  to  some  of  the  most 
important  points  on  the  globe.  These  are  the  telegraphic  lines  of 
the  ocean.  We  have  one  more  to  establish,  one  pole  of  which  shall 
touch  the  shore  of  unhappy  Africa,  and  pour  into  her  sleeping 
bosom  a  flood  of  light,  intelligence,  civilization,  commerce,  and 
Christianity,  electrifying  her,  not  into  mere  galvanic  life,  but  to 
that  redemption,  regeneration,  and  disenthralment  for  which  you, 
Mr.  President,  (the  Hon.  Henry  Clay)  and  this  Society,  have  been 
so  long,  so  earnestly,  and  so  faithfully  laboring." 

For  the  future  working  of  our  general  government  also, 
we  are  full  of  hope  of  good  results.  When  the  antagonis- 
tic interests  of  its  various  parts  shall  have  been  harmoni- 
ously adjusted — and  when  a  higher  importance  shall  be 
given  to  the  religious  teaching  which  the  government  pro- 
fesses to  recognize  in  the  person  of  its  Chaplains — then  the 
ratio  of  moral  progression  will  be  equal  to  that  of  its  great 
physical  power. 


82      CHAPLAINS  OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

But  to  this  end  let  a  Board  of  Examiners  take  charge 
of  all  candidates  for  Chaplains  for  the  Army  and  Navy,  as 
proposed  on  page  30  of  this  work ;  and  let  Congress  close 
the  door  to  all  competition  for  Chaplains  to  either  branch 
of  her  legislative  bodies,  by  calling  her  own  religious 
teachers,  as  presented  on  page  32 — and  we  trust  it  will  be 
only  so  many  steps  towards  that  glorious  consummation  so 
devoutly  to  be  desired,  not  for  our  own  benefit  only,  but 
for  that  of  all  the  other  nations  of  the  earth. 


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